Ellsworth American., 1907-05-08
IN DROWNING CASES.
THE WORK OF RESUSCIrATION
SHOULD BE LONG CONTINUED.
MANY INSTANCES ON RECORD WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
BACK TO LIFE AFTER A
LONG TINE.


BACK TO LIFE AFTER A
LONG TINE.
81 have no doubt that many lives are
lost in drowning accidents said an ex-
perienced physician, "for the simple rea-
son that efforts at resuscitation after the
recovery OF the body are not continued
long enough, and that those who attempt
to bring back consciousness do not con-
tinue long enough at the work, and give
the person up for dead too soon. A good
rule to follow is to keep working until
you are sure the patient is dead, and then
work a. much longer.
In view OF the large number OF drown
ing accidents which happen every year
In the bays, rivers, streams and lakes Of
Maine from tho overturning OF canoes,
boats and while bathing the people Of the
State living anywhere near the water
ought to know how to proceed in drown
ing accident, and to realize that persons
apparently dead from drowning are often
brought TO life, even though they have
oeen In the water for long time. :.
The length OF time person may stay
in the water and be brought back to life
again has never been determined. In
some cases people drown arer being in
the water TWO or three minutes, and in
others they have Deem IN the water many
times that number, ana Sill have been
brought back to lie oy persistent enort.
First Tor Al the water should b ex-
peiled from the lungs OF the unconscious
person, ana enorts made TO induce breath
ing II II does not come naturally. There
are many methods OF dong this, bnt in
the main the lower part OF the body
should be kept slightly elevated to allow
the head and shoulders to remain down
ward to favor the draining OF wster from
the lungs and then Efforts immediately
made to restore breathing.
The application OF hartshorn, smelling
salts or snuh to the nostrils, tickling the
throat with feather, dashing hot and
cold water alternately on the chest and
face and vigorous friction OF the upper
part of the body to produce warmth are
OF value as are also the wiping and
cleansing OF the mouth. In case these
preliminary efforts fail, artificial respira-
tioD should be resorted to and continued
for long time, several hours il fneeded.
A common method, which il rightly
practiced is often efficacious, is to lay the
person fiat on the back; then kneeling be-
hind the head grasp the arms near the
elbows and raise them upward and back
ward to their full length behind the head,
pulling gently at the end of the move
ment. Then return the arms to the pa
TENTS side, pressing hard v ith the arms
themselves on the chest and pit Of the
stomach. The upward movement ex-
pands the lungs so that air may enter, and
the pressing contracts them, expelling the
air. This sets up an artificial respiration
which will bring the person around if
anything will. ~
1t should be remembered that it is,of
first importance to have the air passage to.
the lungs free. All mucous and ffoths
should be wiped from the mouth and nos
and the tongue must be kept from falling
back into the throat and plugging it.
A person unconscious, lying on his back,
is most likely to swallow his tongue,
effectually closing the throat against, the
passage of air. II doctor is present he
will use tongue forceps il he has them.
II there is no doctor needle and thread
passed through the tongues tip and held
or fastened will serve the purpose. II
there is no needle and thread more heroic
means must be used. Nearly everybody
carries q pen knife and lead pencil
Take the small blade OF the knife, and
wipe it as clean as possible, stick it
through the tongue near the tip and push
the pencil through the slit. The pencil,
resting against the lips, will keep the
tongue out and at the same time stop the
bleeding from the cut.
This seems cruel perhaps, but it is a very
little thing compared with the life OF
man, which may well depend upon this