The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-08-25
DROWNING PEOPLE.
What to Do to ReSuScitate Them
from the Cincinnati Times

from the Cincinnati Times.l
"John Smith fell into the river and
was drowned the body was soon after
recovered all efforts to resuscitate him
proved futile" Announcements like this
are common in the newspapers. Perhaps
John Smith when taken from the river
was beyond human assistance, and per-
haps he was not. The fact that ali eff
forts to save him failed may not be in
consistent with the conclusion that Smith
might have been restored to life by
proper treatment. If those efforts con-
sisted In hanging him up by the heels,
rolling him on barrel, or knocking him
about in the hope of thus inducing him
wonder they were futile. The rules that
ought to be observed III treating per-
son rescued from the water are few and
simple. DR.: Il. r. Silvester's methods
of restoring the, apparently dead or
drowned-7Which have been approved by
the Royal Medical and UhirufgiEal So
clety-are practical, easily Understood;
and are in accordance with common
sense. The one important point to be
breathing, and the efforts to accomplish
this should be persevered in until the
arrival of medical assistance, or until
the pulse and breath have ceased for
at least an hour. Cleanse the mouth
and hostrils.; open the mouth ,,draw for.
ward the patients tongue With a handkef.
chief, andkeepitforward; remove all tight
clothing from about the neck and chest.
AS to the patients position place him on
his back on fiat surface, inclined little
from the feet upward; raise and support
the head and shoulders on a small, firm
cushion or folded article of dress placed
under the shoulder blades. Then grasp
his arms just above the elbow, and draw
the arms gently and steadily upward,
Until they meet above the head (this is
for the purpose Of drawing air into the
lungs; and keep the arms in that posi-
ton for two seconds. Then turn down
the patients arms, and press them gent
ly ald firmly for two seconds against
the sides Of the chest with the object of
pressing air out of tbs lungs pressure
or the breast bohe will aid this). Re-
peat these measures alternately, deliber-
ately and perseveringly, fifteen times in
minute, until spontaneous effort to
respire is perceived, upon which cease
to initiate the movements of breathing.
and proceed to induce circulation and
warmth. This may be done by wrapping
the patient In dry blankets and rubbing
the limbs Upward, firmly and energetic
ally. Promote the warmth of the body
by the application of hot Hannels, bot
Ties of hot water, etc., to the pit Of the
stomach, the armpits and to the soles Of
the feet. Warm clothing may generally
be obtained from bystaDder. On the
restoration of life stimulants should be
given, and a disposition to sleep en-
couraged.
II the above method of restoring res
piration was the method practiced in the
case of John Smith, he vas too far gone
to be saved. These rules restore a vast
majority Of the apparently drowned
whenever they are carefully applied, and
as no kind of information upon human
affairs is so important as that which
teaches us how to save life, these direc-
lions should be treasured up in every
mind.