1. Bring the drowning person out by pulling him by his hair or clothes.
2. Take him to a dry shady spot.
3. Loosen the clothing and clean the face, mouth and nose of weeds and mud.
4. Try to revive his respiration because the water which goes into the lungs stops respiration as the diaphragm ceases to work.
5. Let him lie on his abdomen with his face downwards and raise his abdomen up. This will help the remaining water to come out through nose and mouth.
6. Cover him with the blanket and make the person drink tea or coffee.
Methods of Artificial Breathing:
1. Shaiffer method.
2. Mouth to Mouth Respiration.
3. Selvister Method.
(1) Shaiffer Method: Lie the drowned person face downwards on his abdomen, with both the hands spread on the sides of his head. Kneel, sitting on your heels, close by one side of the patient and place your both the hands firmly under his last ribs. Raise yourself gradually until your weight falls upon your wrists.This exerts pressure on the diaphragm and contracts the chest cavity. After 2 seconds return to your starting position for 3 seconds. This relaxes the pressure. These movements of alternate pressure and relaxation, help to empty the lungs of water and fill them again with air. Continue it till the risk is over and the natural breathing is resumed.
(2) Mouth to Mouth Respiration: Open your mouth wide and place it tightly over the victim’s mouth. Blow into the victim’s mouth. The air will reach the patient’s lungs through his mouth. Similarly draw out air from the person’s lungs through mouth. Continue this process till he regains consciousness and starts Natural breathing on his own.
(3) Selvister Method: Lie down the patient straight on his back. Place pillow under his head and make the other aider pull out patient’s tongue. Kneel down towards his head. Hold his arms from under the elbows, Pull them up, down, right and left and put pressure near the ribs. Repeat the process till the natural breathing is resumed.
