How To Perform CPR On a Drowning Victim

In the U.S., over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths occur each year, making it a significant public health concern. It is the major cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14. 

Imagine you’re at the pool and see someone struggling to stay above water. You want to help them and bring them back to safety. How do you do that? By using CPR techniques for drowning victims, you can make a real difference. 

Knowing how to perform CPR is crucial, as emergencies can happen at any time. Training in First Aid and CPR, especially for drowning situations, gives you the skills to assist in these critical moments. 

Furthermore, CPR helps restore breathing and blood circulation when someone has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating. For a drowning victim, specific steps need to be followed to address the water they have inhaled and their compromised state.

The article will provide guidance on the key steps involved in carrying out CPR on a person who nearly drowned. From assessing the situation to the actual process of administering rescue breaths and chest compressions, we are going to cover everything.

What is Drowning and Its Effects?

Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment due to submersion or immersion in liquid. It can result in death, injury, or no injury at all. People often ask a question: is drowning painful or not? It indeed does. Every death hurts. The process of drowning can actually be a terrifying and painful one. When water gets into the windpipe, the innate response of the body is to try to discharge it out by coughing, choking and suffocating sensation. This struggle for breath can cause panic and a feeling of intense discomfort. 

The lack of oxygen supply to the brain and other vital organs can result in a rapid loss of consciousness, which may reduce the sensation of pain.

Drowning can have severe effects that are long term. Survivors may have neurological damage as well as respiratory problems among other health issues. The psychological impact on the victim and family members can also be great causing stress, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Drowning incidents highlight the importance of water safety measures and the need for immediate intervention to prevent fatal outcomes.

 

Signs of a Drowning Person

Recognizing the signs of drowning can be challenging, as they are often subtle and not as dramatic as depicted in movies. Here are some key signs to look out for:

• Quietness: A drowning person is often unable to call for help. They may be silent and unable to wave or signal for assistance.
• Head Position: The person’s head may be low in the water, with their mouth at water level. They might tilt their head back with their mouth open.
• Eyes: Their eyes may be glassy, unable to focus, or closed.
• Body Position: They may remain upright in the water, not using their legs, and appear to be climbing an invisible ladder.
• Breathing: They may be hyperventilating or gasping for air.
• Hair: Their hair might be covering their forehead or eyes, and they make no attempt to move it.

Being aware of these signs can help you identify someone in distress and take prompt action to assist them. 

What is Drowning CPR?

Drowning CPR is a crucial skill used to help people who have trouble breathing after being submerged in water. This technique involves clearing the airway, giving breaths, and performing chest compressions to restart breathing and blood flow. The main goal is to get oxygen to the brain and other important organs, which helps prevent serious damage and increases the chances of survival.

How well drowning CPR works depends on how quickly and correctly it’s done. Acting fast can greatly improve the victim’s chances of recovery, so it’s important for bystanders and rescuers to know how to perform this life-saving technique. 

Being ready and understanding how to do drowning CPR can make a big difference in emergencies.

Steps to Perform CPR on a Drowning Victim

Performing CPR on a drowning victim involves a series of important steps to restore breathing and circulation. However, CPR is performed differently for children and adults, especially when it comes to drowning cases. The steps vary depending on the age of the person receiving CPR. Don’t worry, we will explain that too in the section

Here’s how you can perform CPR on a drowning victims:

1. Ensure Environment Safety

Before you start helping a drowning victim, it’s crucial to make sure the scene is safe for both you and the victim. This means checking for any hazards like sharp objects or unstable surfaces. 

For example, if the victim is in shallow water, you should be cautious of any underwater obstacles that could cause injury. 

Also, an often overlooked fact is that water can conduct electricity, so if there’s a risk of electrical hazards near the water, such as power lines, avoid touching the water and move to a safer location. This little-known detail can make a big difference in preventing further injuries while you assist.

2. Check Responsiveness

To check a drowning victim’s responsiveness, gently tap them on the shoulder and shout, “Are you okay?” This helps determine if they are conscious and can respond to stimuli. 

Research shows tapping on the shoulder is often more effective in waking someone from unconsciousness than verbal commands alone because the physical touch can stimulate the body’s reflexes better. 

For example, if you’re alone and find someone unresponsive after a drowning incident, tapping their shoulder and speaking loudly might reveal if they can react or need immediate CPR.

3. Call for Help

When performing CPR on a drowning victim, it’s crucial to call for help as soon as possible. While it’s essential to begin CPR immediately, especially since drowning victims often need prompt medical attention due to the potential for severe oxygen deprivation, calling for help within the first two minutes significantly improves the chances of survival. 

Interestingly, recent studies have shown that bystanders who call for help while performing CPR can increase the victim’s survival rate by up to 30%—a fact not widely known among many CPR practitioners. 

Promptly alerting emergency services ensures that professional medical support arrives quickly, addressing any complications and providing advanced care that’s crucial for recovery.

4. Open the Airway

To open the airway, gently tilt the person’s head back by placing one hand on their forehead and using your other hand to lift their chin. This position helps clear the airway by moving the tongue away from the back of the throat. 

For example, if you’re helping a child, be gentle and use a smaller head tilt to avoid overextending their neck. After tilting the head, check if there are any visible obstructions in the mouth and remove them if you can. 

This step is crucial for ensuring that air can flow freely into the lungs during rescue breaths.

5. Check for Breathing

To check for breathing, gently tilt the person’s head back and lift their chin to open the airway. Look at their chest to see if it rises and falls, listen for any sounds of breathing, and feel for breath on your cheek. Do this for no more than 10 seconds. 

For children, you can also place your ear close to their mouth and nose to check for breath. If the person isn’t breathing or only gasping, start CPR immediately.

6. Perform Chest Compressions

To perform chest compressions effectively, start by positioning your hands. Place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest, between the nipples, and put your other hand on top, interlocking your fingers. Keep your shoulders directly over your hands, arms straight, and use your body weight to press down firmly. This positioning helps you apply even pressure for proper compressions.

Next, push down hard and fast. Compress the chest about 2 inches deep at a rhythm of 100-120 compressions per minute, ensuring the chest fully rises after each push. This helps circulate blood to vital organs until the heart and breathing return.

For children, compressions vary by age. For infants, use should two fingers just below the nipple line and press down about 1.5 inches. For children (ages 1 to puberty), use one or two hands, depending on their size, and compress the chest 1-1.5 inches deep. 

Always make sure to push hard enough to see the chest rise and fall while keeping your hands straight to avoid injury.

 

Key Tip: Make sure you’re pushing hard enough to create a noticeable rise and fall of the chest, and keep your hands straight to avoid injury.

7. Give Rescue Breaths

To give rescue breaths, first ensure the airway is open by tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Pinch the victim’s nose shut, cover their mouth with yours, and gently blow into their mouth until you see their chest rise. Each breath should last about 1 second. 

For children, use a gentle puff of air and cover their nose and mouth with your mouth. Avoid over-inflating their lungs. If you’re unsure about giving rescue breaths, perform chest compressions alone until help arrives.

Remember, Quick and effective rescue breaths are vital for restoring oxygen to a drowning victim.

8. Continue CPR

Continuing CPR means you keep alternating between chest compressions and rescue breaths until help arrives or the victim starts breathing on their own. 

For children, you should use a gentler approach with smaller, shallower compressions. Perform 30 compressions at a depth of about 1.5 inches, followed by 2 rescue breaths. 

An interesting detail is that CPR for drowning victims is more likely to succeed if performed immediately; studies show that the survival rate improves significantly if CPR is started within the first 2 minutes. 

For example, if a child falls into a pool and stops breathing, begin CPR right away to maximize their chance of recovery. Keep the rhythm steady and don’t stop until professional help takes over.

9. Use an AED if Available

If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, turn it on and follow the instructions it provides. The AED will analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if needed, deliver a shock to help restore a normal heartbeat. 

What many might not realize is that AEDs are designed with voice prompts and visual instructions that guide you through each step, making it easier for even a layperson to use effectively. 

This technology significantly boosts the chances of survival, as it can correct abnormal heart rhythms caused by drowning and other cardiac issues. If you want to learn AED, you must opt for Online CPR Certification courses. 

Post-Resuscitation Care

If medical help hasn’t arrived yet, keep a close watch on the drowning victim after performing CPR. Make sure they are lying on their side if possible, which can help keep their airway clear and prevent choking. Continue to monitor their breathing and responsiveness, and be ready to resume CPR if they stop breathing again. If the victim starts to regain consciousness, keep them calm and warm, and try to keep them still until help arrives.

While waiting, it’s also helpful to provide detailed information about the victim’s condition and the CPR you’ve performed when emergency responders do arrive. This will help them give the best possible care. Your attention and accurate updates are crucial for the victim’s recovery.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

If you are a newbie in the Life-saving field, you will definitely encounter many common mistakes and misconceptions. Having said, performing CPR on a drowning victim can be challenging, and there are several common mistakes and misconceptions to be aware of:

1. Inadequate Compression Depth: One of the most common mistakes is not pressing hard enough during chest compressions. Compressions should be at least 2 inches deep to be effective.
2. Incorrect Hand Placement: Placing hands too high or too low on the chest can reduce the effectiveness of compressions. The correct position is the center of the chest at the nipple line.
3. Failure to Tilt the Head Back: Not tilting the victim’s head back can cause the airway to remain blocked, preventing effective rescue breaths.
4. Ignoring Rescue Breaths: Unlike some other CPR scenarios, rescue breaths are crucial for drowning victims because they often suffer from hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
5. Not Checking for Vomitus: Drowning victims often vomit during resuscitation. It’s important to clear the airway to prevent aspiration.
6. Stopping CPR Too Soon: Continuing CPR until professional help arrives is essential. Stopping too early can reduce the chances of survival.
7. Misunderstanding Foam: Foam from the mouth is common in drowning victims. It should not be a distraction; focus on maintaining compressions and rescue breaths.

Hence, by being aware of these common mistakes and misconceptions, you can improve the effectiveness of your CPR efforts and increase the chances of survival for a drowning victim.

Act Now and Master CPR to Save Lives

Performing CPR on a drowning victim is a critical skill that can save lives. Quick and effective action can keep the victim’s blood flowing and provide essential oxygen until professional help arrives. Remember to ensure the scene is safe, follow the proper steps for chest compressions and rescue breaths, and continue monitoring the victim closely. If medical help is delayed, stay vigilant and keep the victim in a safe position. Learning and practicing CPR can prepare you to handle emergencies confidently, making a real difference in life-threatening situations. Your readiness to act can be a lifesaver.