Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-08-19
Treatment Of the Drowned.
Two Things to be Done Restore Breath-
ing Restore Animal Heat.

ICircular from the State Board of HEALTH
Rule /. Remove all distractions to
neck and Wristbands turn the patient on
his face, with the head down hill stand
astride the hips with your face towards his
head, and, locking your fingers together un-
der his belly, raise the body as high as you
can without lifting the forehead off tine
ground, and give the body smart jerk to
remove mucus from the throat and water
from the windpipe; hold the body suspend
ed long enough to slowly count one, two,
three, four, five, repeating the jerk more
gently two or more times.
Rule ?. Place the patient face down.
ward, and maintaining all the while your
position astride the body, grasp the points
of the shoulders by the clothing, or. if tie
body is naked, thrust your fingers into the
armplts, olasping your thumbs over the
points of the shoulders, and raise the ches,
as high as you can without lifting the head
quite off the ground, and slowly count ore,
two. three. Replace him on the ground.
with his forehead on his fixed arm, the neck
Strengthened out, and the mouth and nose
free. Place your elbows against your knees,
and your hands upon the sides of his chest,
over the lower ribs. and press downward and
inward with increasing force long enough TO
slowly count one, two. Then suddenly let
60, grasp the shoulders as before and raise
the chest then press upon the ribs, &c.
These alternate movements should be re-
peated 10 10 Is times minute for an hour
at least, unless breathing is restored sooner.
| -,
ing,
Rule 8. After breathing has commenced,
restore the animal heat. Wrap him in
warm blankets, apply bottles Of hot water,
hot bricks. or anything to restore heat.
Warm the head nearly as fast as the body,
lest convulsions come on. Rubbing the
body with warm cloths, or the hand and
slapping the leshy parts may assist to re-
store warmth, and the breathing also. II
the patisn, can surely swallow, give hot cof-
fee, tea, milk, or a little hot sling Give
spirits sparingIy. les, they produce depres-
zion. Place the patient in a warm bed. and
give him plenty Of fresh air keep him
quiet.
Avoid delay. \ moment may turn the
scale for life or death. Dry ground shelter.
warmth, stImulauts, etc. at this moment are
nothing, artificial breathing is everything
is the one remedy All others are second
sry
DO not stop to remove wet clothing be
fore efforts are made to restore breathing.
Precious time is wasted, and the patient
may be fatally chilled BY the exposure Of the
naked body, even in the summer. Give all
your attention and effort to restore breath
ing BY forcing air into and ont Of the lungs.
If the breathing has just ceased smart
.lap on the face or vigorous twist Of the
hair will sometimes start it again, md may
BE- tried Incidentally. a. may. alSo, pres.in.
the finger upon The roo, Of the tongue Be
fore natural breathing Is fully restored, do
not let the patient lie on hiS back unless
some person hold the tongue forward. The
tongue back may close the wndpipe and
cause fatal choking
1t several persons are present one may
hold the head steady, keeping the neck near
y straight; others may remove we, clothing.
replacing at once clothing which /. dry and
warm they may also chafe the limbs, and
thus promote circulation.
Prevent friends from crowding around The
paten, and excluding fresh air; also from
trying to give siimuan,s before the patent
can swallow. The first causes sufFacation /:
the .econd, fatal choking
Do not give mp too soon; you are work
ing for life. Any time within two hour. YOU
may be on the very threshold Of success
without there being any sign Of il.
In suitocaiion BY smoke or any poisonous
gas, as also BY hanging proceed the same
as for drowning, omtting effort to exp-l
water, etc, from the windpipe
In suspended breathing from effects af
chlofoform. hyIrate OF chloral, etc, proceed
b' Rule >, taking especial pans to keep
the head very low, and preventing closure of
the windpipe BY the tongue falling back.