Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-29
How to Save the Drowning,

1t nav be well Just now 10 make some
suggestions TO residents at the seashore in
regard taIhc proper course to be pursued in
cases OF danger BY drowning, and in the first
place, TO offer a few words OF advice to per.
sons who may he called on TO swim to the
aid of persons struggling in the water. II is
most important that the drowning person bc
assured in cherry voice that he is safe, and
urged to cease struggling, for the more he strug-
giles the more water he swallows and the more
dangerous il is TO attempt a rescue. 1t is sheer
madness TO seize man struggling in the wa-
ter, for he will blindly grasp his would-bc-
rescuer and drag him down; but when he
has become quiet the swimmer should catch
him by the hair Of his head, turn him quick
ly on his back, giving him sudden pull,
which will cause him to float, and then start
for the shore. Those who have tried this
plan say that il is very easy of execution, and
instances are on record where one man has
swan ashore with four persons whose hair he
grasped and whom he then threw on their
backs. In case Of a strong out-setting tide
the rescuer should, however. throw himself
on his back and feat until help arrives, for
he will soon exhaust himself by
battling against the current, and it
may be said in passing, that
lone swimmer when caught by the undertow
will do far better to float than TO wear him
self out in uninterrupted struggling for the
shore. When body has sunk to the bot
tom, and bubbles indicate that life is not ex-
tinct, person may dive in the direction in
dicated by the bubbles, but he should seize
the hair with one hand only, using the other
hand in conjunction with the feet in raising
both himself and the drowning person to the
surface. When the rescued person has been
landed the first thing in order is to arouse
him by wiping his body drv and by sapping
the stomach and chest. The jaws should be-
separated il they are clenched, and kept apart
with cork or small piece of wood the per
son should he turned on his face and the
stomach kncadcd as long as water flows from
the mouth. Then the throat should be
wiped with rolled handkerchief, and
the patient turned on his back
with the pit OF the stomach ele.
vated above the rest of the body. The
waist should then be squeezed with great
pressure as il to force the contents of the
chest into the mouth, and suddenly let 20.
This process. which is an imitation of natural
breathing, should be repeated at momentary
intervals. but with regularity, until the per-
sons breath is restored; but il satisfactory
results do not follow after three or four min
utes, the patient should be again turned on
his stomach (but in the opposite direction
from before) for the purpose OF erpelling any
water remaining in the air passages. Then
the artificial respiration should be resumed
aud continued until the patient revives or
until death is beyond doubt The process OF
drying and rubbing should be all the while
continued, soon after the breath returns.
These simple rules are old, but every one
who reads them may this very summer have
cause to put them in practice.