Drowning

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

•Death from drowning occurs when a victim is suffocated. Water enters the airways and lungs leading to laryngeal contractions, and interferes with the supply of air.

•Responding quickly can save the victim's life.

•Identification signs may include: - When the victim is exhausted, the body tends to sink until the body floats vertically, with only the head floating above the water. - Breathing bubbles become weaker and movement in the water slows down or stops completely. - The victim's face, especially the lip area, turns dark purple.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

DROWNING FIRST AID

The methods: 1. First, don't jump into the water to assist the victim if he/ she is moving. Throw a lifebuoy, or any object that can float into the water for them to grab onto. 2. Contact the Management Office/ Rescue Team immediately. 3. If the victim is unresponsive, make sure the pool power supply, or lights, are not causing electrical conductivity in the water. Do not jump into the water if electrical current is detected in the water. 4. Take care and not to endanger your life. 5. If you can swim and are sure there is no electric source in the water, enter the water to assist the victim.

6. Place the victim in the prone position with head tilted to the side, arms stretched toward the head. For babies and young children - hold both feet, and turn upside down for a few seconds. 7. Wrap your arms around his/ her stomach, lifting the whole body. 8. This is to push water out of the lungs. 9. Do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) until breathing returns to normal. 10. Do CPR until the rescue team arrives if you do not feel that the victim is starting to breathe again. 11. As soon as the victim begins to breathe, lay the victim at supine position until rescue team arrives. Cover the victim with a thin blanket.