Rumor :When a child is drowning, one should run with the child upside down.
/✗:This viewpoint is not entirely correct.
The method of carrying a drowning child upside down and running is not ineffective, but its success rate is very low, and it is a chance occurrence that should not be blindly imitated. Additionally, carrying a child upside down by grasping their ankles can cause severe damage to the child’s spine and vertebrae due to the inability to stabilize their head, leading to neck shaking.
This method can only be used when the child is conscious and is ineffective for children who have stopped breathing.
So, what are the correct first aid measures for drowning children?
- Clear the mouth and nose of debris:
Once the drowning person is rescued to shore, immediately remove water, mud, and debris from their mouth and nose. - Drain water rapidly:
Position the drowning person in a head-down, feet-up posture to drain the water they have inhaled. The simplest method is for the rescuer to kneel on one knee and bend the other leg, placing the drowning person’s abdomen on the rescuer’s knee, lowering their head, and then pressing on their abdomen and back to drain the water. - Perform CPR:
For drowning victims who have stopped breathing, CPR should be performed immediately. - Seek medical attention promptly:
After the above treatments and the restoration of respiratory and cardiac functions, complications in the lungs, heart, and brain may still occur. Therefore, the victim must be promptly transported to the hospital for continued rescue and treatment.
In addition, both when rescuing a drowning person and when attempting to save oneself from drowning, it is essential to remain calm and not panic. Tragedies often occur due to the panic of those who have fallen into the water, and we must learn from these incidents.
Lastly, I would like to remind everyone to enjoy swimming in formal, safe swimming pools with lifeguards rather than in complex and unpredictable rivers, lakes, and seas. Never take risks and let tragedy strike.
