Question

Explain the procedure of administering first aid to a victim of drowning.

Answer 1

1. Make scene safe and get help: Ensure you and the victim are safe before acting. Ask a bystander to call emergency services immediately (or call yourself if you are alone after giving initial care).
2. Remove from the water and assess: As soon as the person is out of the water, check responsiveness (shout and gently shake) and check whether they are breathing normally.
3. If the person is not breathing normally:
   • If you are trained and confident: give five initial rescue breaths first (because hypoxia is the usual problem after drowning). After those five breaths, if the person still isn’t breathing, begin CPR using cycles of 30 chest compressions then 2 rescue breaths. Continue until qualified help takes over, the person shows signs of life, or you are too exhausted to continue.
   • If you are untrained or not comfortable with rescue breaths: perform hands‑only CPR continuous chest compressions at about 100/minute until help arrives.
   • If you are alone: perform CPR for about 1 minute (roughly) before leaving to call emergency services if no one else has called.
4. If the person is breathing but unconscious: Place them in the recovery (side‑lying) position, keep them warm, remove wet clothing and cover with blankets to prevent hypothermia, and continue to monitor breathing and responsiveness until help arrives.
5. Ongoing care and important reminders:
   • Continue to monitor airway, breathing and circulation. If the victim regains consciousness, keep them warm and watch for deterioration.
   • Learn and maintain formal first‑aid/CPR training (including AED use) proper training improves outcomes.