The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-05-19
HOW TO REVIVE
THE DROWNED
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OF
MICHIGAN GIVES VALUABLE
INFORM NATION IN
PAMPHLET.

The fact that over 300 lives are lost
from drowning in this state every year
suggests the importance of making a
special effort to teach the people what
TO do when an accident from drowning
occurs. To this the department OF
health has issued a pamphlet Treat
ment of the Drowned" and as the
boating and bathing season is now at
hand the information is valuable.
The one action of first Importance in
the treatment of the drowned, the suf-
located or the electrically shocked is
to restore breathing. This must be
done by expelling from the lungs the
poison or water which has caused the
trouble. and by establishing artificial
respiration. Avoid delay. One mo-
ment may lose or save a life.
In resuscitating the drowned lose no
time in recovering the body from the
water. Always try to restore life; for
while ten minutes under water is us
ually the limit, still persons have been
resuscitated after being under water
for thirty or forty minutes. DO not lose
time by taking the body TO a place of
shelter-operate Immediately.
Quickly lay the person prone, face
downward, with stomach resting on n
barrel or roll of clothing. SO the head
will be lower than rest of the body and
the water will run out from the throat
and lungs. Wipe dry mouth and nos
trils. Wrap the corner Of a handker-
chief about the forefnger and clear
the mouth of all mucus and Shiny sub
stance back as far as the top of the
throat. Rip open the clothing on
chest and back, and keep the face ex-
posed to the air. Separate the jaws
and keep them apart with n cork,
stone, or knot in handkerchief.
Remove the roll of clothing from un-
derneath the stomach of the patient.
Kneel by the side OF or across the pa
tient. Place your hands over the low
est ribs. Lean forward and put your
weight straight over the lowest ribs.
Exert this pressure for three seconds.
To count three seconds say: One
thousand and one. one thousand and
two. one thousand and three"
Do not remove the hands from the
ribs; but release the pressure from
the ribs for two seconds, by squatting
backward. To count two seconds,
say: lone thousand and one. one
thousand and two"
Again exert pressure over the low
est ribs for three seconds, as de-
scribed; then again release pressure
for two seconds. as described; alter
nate thus, three seconds pressure and
two seconds release, about twelve
times a minute. until breathing is re-
stored. This method OF resuscitation
at once expels water and produces the
identical results of normal breathing.
If another person is at hand to as
sist, let him do everything possible to
keep the body warm, by sheltering it
from the wind. rubbing hands and
soles of feet, making hot applications.
Warm the head nearly as fast as the
other parts of the body to avoid con-
gestion. Camphor or ammonia may
be applied to nostrils to excite breath
ing.
Do not give up too soon. Any time
within two hours you may be on the
point of reviving the patient without
there being any sign of it. Send for
n physician as soon ms possible after
the accident. Prevent friends from
crowding around the patient and ex-
Guiding fresh air.
After breathing is restored. remove
the patient to warm bed where there
is free circulation of fresh air. Admin |
lister in small doses stimulants (hot
coffee, ginger tea, hot sling. being |
careful not to let the patient choke or
strangle. There is danger that the
patient may suffer congestion of the |
lungs and have great difficulty in