❓How should you properly provide first aid to a person who has drowned or suffered an i...
❓How should you properly provide first aid to a person who has drowned or suffered an injury while diving? This is what Roman Leonidovich Bulanov, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Director of the Institute of Accreditation and Simulation Technologies at SGMU, and Head of the Department of Clinical Modelling and Manipulation Skills, reminds us. ❗The algorithm for resuscitation measures in cases of drowning differs from the standard adult resuscitation algorithm in only one aspect. After removing a drowning victim from the water and confirming the absence of vital signs, it is recommended to: deliver 5 rescue breaths; then proceed with 30 chest compressions. ❗Important to know! It is not recommended to remove a drowning person from the water without proper training. ❗Do not attempt to remove water from the victim’s airways — in particular, do not try to “drain” them by placing them over your knee! ❗Remember! Diving in unfamiliar areas is dangerous: the bottom may contain submerged logs, rocks, driftwood, metal rods, etc. If you notice any of the following signs in a person who has dived in an unfamiliar area and then emerged from the water on their own (or was pulled out by bystanders), do not let them leave under any circumstances: 🔹unsteady gait; 🔹disorientation; 🔹slurred or confused speech; 🔹complaints of neck pain; 🔹a posture where they are supporting their head. There is a high probability that they have sustained a cervical spine injury. A sudden turn of the head could cause them to lose consciousness, and may even lead to respiratory and cardiac arrest. If you are within the reach of an ambulance service: 🔹Call for an ambulance (the ambulance team’s kit includes equipment for spinal immobilisation). 🔹Stay with the victim and ask them not to turn their head. 🔹Do not attempt to immobilise the neck using makeshift materials (improper actions can cause harm). ❗If calling an ambulance is not possible, you must arrange for the victim to be transported to an area where ambulance services are accessible, using any available means of transport. During transport, stay with the victim, reminding them not to turn their head. If necessary, help them keep their head in the “looking straight ahead” position. Everyone — not just medical professionals — should be aware of these simple rules! ✅ Knowing first aid procedures will help you stay composed in an emergency and act quickly and confidently. ✅ This publication was produced as part of a campaign aimed at reducing mortality from external causes.