Drowning Resuscitation

Assess for hazards

Fire, wire, gas, glass, up, down, all around

Check for responsiveness

“Hello? Can you hear me?”, clapping, tapping, light squeezing

Call EMS, call for First Aid Kit and AED

Ask bystander to call 911, to get a First Aid Kit, an AED, and to return to you. Ensure they understand you

Use of PPE (personal protective equipment)

Use of barrier device, application of gloves

Check ABCs

Victim positioned on back, open airway using head-tilt-chin-lift, look, listen, and feel for signs of breath: rising chest, sound of breathing, feeling of breath

Deliver 2 rescue breaths

Head-tilt-chin-lift, deliver first breath and check for rising chest, deliver second breath and check for rising chest.

Deliver 30 compressions

Landmark, using both hands and locked arms, deliver 30 compressions at 100-120bpm. Allow for chest to recoil in between compressions.

Continue CPR until AED arrives (if available), until complications occur, or until relieved from CPR by EMS.

30 compressions for every 2 breaths. If AED arrives, continue CPR while having an AED-trained bystander apply AED pads. If no AED-trained bystander is present, apply pads yourself. Follow the instructions given by the AED.

Vomiting

Roll victim to their side while supporting their head. Allow victim to finish vomiting. Remove any remaining vomit from their mouth before returning them to their back. Reassess ABCs:

If breathing, roll victim to recovery position, remain with them until EMS arrives.

If not breathing, continue CPR.

Gastric distention

Too much air is being delivered during rescue breaths:

Readjust airway, and deliver smaller, less powerful rescue breaths.

Breaths are not entering the airway/lungs.

Readjust airway, attempt another rescue breath:

If that breath enters, deliver second rescue breath.

If that breath does not enter, continue 30 compressions.

Aspiration

Aspiration is caused by a foreign object or matter entering the airway and lungs. For example, water, vomit, food, blood, gum.

Prevent aspiration using recovery position while victim is vomiting.

If foreign object is visible and can be removed, roll victim to the side and remove the object. Reassess ABCs:

If victim is breathing, roll to recovery position and remain with them until EMS arrives.

If victim is not breathing, continue CPR.

Signs of life

Victim is moving, breathing on their own, or conscious.

Treat appropriately:

If victim is unconscious but breathing, roll to recovery position and remain with them until EMS arrives.

If victim is conscious, treat for shock and perform secondary assessment. Remain with victim until EMS arrives.