Drowning
Categories:
FIRST AID TO THE INJURED
Military Handbooks:
The Plattsburg Manual Advanced Training
Being under water for over four or five minutes is generally fatal,
but, unless you know the body has been submerged a long time, make an
attempt to restore life. Don't get disheartened and give up, if you see
no signs of life after a few minutes' work. Work on the body for at
least an hour.
Your comrade's lifeless body has just been pulled out of the water. What
do you do? You are alone.
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1. Don't waste time in removing his clothes.
2. Reach your finger in his mouth and straighten out his tongue.
3. Lay him on his stomach; then straddle him; reach both arms under his
stomach; raise his hips two feet from the ground and jostle him. This
drains the water from the stomach and lungs.
4. Lay him on his stomach; turn his head to one side so his nose and
mouth do not touch the ground; extend his arms beyond his head (see
illustration); locate his lowest (12th) rib; place hand, finger, and
thumb closed (see illustration) on body so that the little finger curls
over the 12th rib; hold your arms and wrists straight and lean forward
slowly so the weight of the upper part of your body will be brought to
bear gradually upon your comrade's ribs (see illustration); let this
pressure continue for about three seconds; then remove it suddenly by
removing the hands. Apply this pressure at the rate of from 12 to 15
times a minute.
5. Do not attempt to give him any kind of liquids while he is
unconscious.
6. Apply warm blankets as soon as possible.
7. Never say He is dead--Work on his body for at least an hour.