Drowning

death from being under water. In trying to breathe, a drowning person fills his lungs with water. Death ensues, not on account of the water, but from suffocation, that is, the drowning person cannot obtain air. Struggling ceases in from four to six minutes. If a person has not been under water more than ten or twenty minutes, an effort should be made to set up artificial breathing. The patient should be laid face downward on a roll of cloth, or anything that will elevate the chest above the level of the face. This will permit a portion of the water to run out. The patient should then be rolled over on the side to induce an artificial gasp, and rolled promptly back on the breast again. This should be done every four or five seconds, that is, twelve or fifteen times per minute. The weight of the body on the chest drives the air and water out. Turning the body on its side removes the pressure, and air enters the chest. The operation should be kept up indefinitely. Instances have been known where life reappeared after several hours of work of this sort. In the meantime, others should make every effort to remove wet clothing and to dry the body, particularly the arms and legs, and wrap them in warm, dry blankets. See Swimming