First aid in swimming accidents

Tips for first aid after swimming accidents

07/23/2014

In recent weeks, it has come back to swimming accidents - in some cases fatal. To prevent the worst, explains the National Association of Lower Saxony / Bremen the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, what to do in a swimming accident.

Unconsciousness after bathing accident should be brought the person concerned in the stable side position
Being an eyewitness to an accident overwhelms most people. While in traffic accidents many can at least partly fall back on the knowledge gained from the first aid seminar for obtaining the driving license, hardly anyone knows what to do in the case of swimming accidents.

As informed by the national association, the emergency call 112 should first be alerted. In no case should laymen try to rescue a drowning person from the water. „Rescuers easily endanger themselves if they try to pull drownings out of the water, unless they are trained lifeguards, "warns Kersten Enke, head of the Johanniter-Akademie Hannover. „Direct contact with the body should be avoided if possible, because in his fear the drowning person can beat him or pull the rescued person under the water using braces. Preferably, the person's helper should hand a floating object - for example, a lifebuoy - and pull it ashore.“

If the injured man still breathes, he should be brought to the stable side position as quickly as possible. „For this, the head is stretched over, the mouth opened and the chin placed on the back of the hand. The lower knee is angled. Then check your breathing regularly, "says Enke. „If the rescued person does not breathe, first responders must immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation until the ambulance arrives. "

Since people rescued from the water cool off quickly, they should be warmed up with blankets, towels or clothing. (Ag)