Conference moira::parenting

THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN PARAPHRASED from Health & Healing (without permission)

Note: I am not a medical professional and am passing this information along.

The above listed May 1994 health newsletter states that the use of the
Heimlich Manuver should be ROUTINELY be used on unconscious drowning victims.
The current procedure is to use the Heimlich on only choking victims and mouth
to mouth WITHOUT the Heimlich on unconscious drowning victims.  The problem is
that often the victim has water in his lungs and CANNOT absorb oxygen via the
lungs without expelling the water first.  (This only makes sense)... so, use
the Heimlich FIRST, until water is cleared from the lungs.  You can tell when
the lungs are sufficiently clear because the victim will stop spitting up/out
water when the Heimlich thrusts are used.  THEN use mouth to mouth. 
The study by Edward A. Patrick, M.D. (a leading authority on outcome analysis)
performed a study of drowning victims based on reports from several states.
When the Heimlich Manuver was used 87 % survived. By contrast, only 28 %
of drowning victims survived when given only mouth to mouth without using
the Heimlich Manuver FIRST!

You peform the Heimlich exactly the same way as you would as for a choking
victim.

Standing:

1. Stand behind the victim and wrap your arms around victims' waist.

2. Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victims'
abdomen, below the rib cage and above the navel.

3. Grasp your fist with your other hand and pressed into the victim's
abdomen with a quick upward thrust.

4. Repeat until water no longer flows from the mouth.

5. NOW use mouth to mouth if necessary.

Victim lying on ground:

1. Place victim on back.  Turn face to one side to allow water to drain from
the mouth.

2. Facing victim, keel aside victim's hips.

3. With one of your hands on top of the other, place the heel of your bottom 
hand on the abdomen below the rip cage and above the navel.

4. Use your body weight to press into the victim's abdomen with a quick upward
thrust.  Repeat until water no longer flows from mouth.

5. NOW use mouth to mouth recusitation.

The newsletter also states that when NOT using the Heimlich FIRST that often
the victim will vomit into the rescuers mouth exposing the rescuer to the risk
of inhaling vomit, which, of course does neither the victim or rescuer any
good!  The reason for the vomiting is because with waterlogged lungs the 
rescuers air is forced into the victim's stomach (because it can't GET into
waterlogged lungs), the air distends the victim's stomach and causes the
vomiting. 

The Health Letter also claims that it will be YEARS before the American Red
Cross recognizes the need for the Heimlich first and starts recommending it.

So, take the above for what its worth and you may want to consider following
the advice.

Jeff

    
    Thanks Jeff for entering the previous reply.
    
    Drowning is the main cause of death for children under 5 in our
    community. (Orange County - Southern Calif)  Most incidents occur
    in the family or daycare homes with pools or spas.  It makes me
    shudder.
    
    Rochelle

    "Over" in the medical notesfile where I initially entered it the 
    discussion is revolving around the risks associated with using the
    Heimleich, such as broken ribs, zigloid process (a small bone near
    sternum) etc.  But when your trying to save someones life under dire
    straits as you would be with a drowning the risk benefit ratio must
    be considered.  So... 'make sure' there is water in the lungs before
    using the Heimlich. One way would be to try mouth to mouth and if you
    couldn't get air in, and the airway is open you can be 'sure' its water
    in the lungs blocking things.  
    
    Jeff

    Personally, I'd take the chance of the associated complications to the
    Heimlich manuever and/or CPR over death.  Other possible complications
    could be fractured ribs, punctured liver, or even ruptured lungs if you
    ventilate your victim too much (small amount of air, just enough to
    fill the lungs is all you need).
    
    An even more preventible method is to keep an eagle eye on kids.  I
    don't have a child of swimming age, but am dreading when she does
    become a "fish" in the water. 
    
    Lisa

    I'm *AMAZED* at how fast they can get "out of reach".  Jason decided to
    teach me this first hand.  We were all in the shallow end of the pool
    at the Apt.  Jason and Chris were near the edge.  There's a 2foot wide
    ledge that's only about 2 feet deep, and then it steps down to about
    2.5-3.0 deep.  The kids had been playing on the ledge for months, and
    all was fine.  My boyfriend and I were just standing in the water
    talking.  One second I looked, and they were fine.  Next thing I knew,
    Chris yelled Mom! and was shocked-speechless.  I looked and there was
    Jason, bobbing in the water, just over the edge of the "ledge".  It
    took approximately 3 years for me to be able to move in the water to
    get close enough to him to grab him.  By the time I got there, the life
    guard had dove in and grabbed him.  I wasn't more than 6 feet from him
    - I just couldn't MOVE fast enough.  The whole thing probably took
    less than 10 seconds, but it took YEARS off of my life!
    
    He was *FINE* *FINE* *FINE* when he got out, and got ahold of himself -
    he was laughing about it, while I was still shaking like a leaf.  
    
    GEEZ!!  They still go in where it may be a little deeper than I'M
    comfortable, (and that was 3 yrs ago), but when they're in, I'm OUT so
    I can get to them faster if I need to.  Plus they can sort of swim now,
    so that's a big help (-:
    
    

    In regard to the Heimlich Maneuver, well, it is probably useful if you
    know no other way. It's less than useful if all you know about it is
    that some people know how to do it. In the emergency situation where
    your own child is lying in your arms with white skin and blue lips, as
    cold as ice and as still as death, you will most likely not be able to
    remember the mechanics of the Heimlich Maneuver unless you have
    practiced it over and over again.
    
    The easiest, quickest way to accomplish the same thing is to place the
    child face down on the deck or dock and press hard on his or her back
    as if you were doing CPR. The water will come flowing out. Continue
    pressing on different parts of the back until no more water is ejected.
    (This will seem to take hours, but will probably take just a few
    seconds.)
    
    This is the most important thing to remember, IMHO:
    
    DO NOT GIVE UP IF YOUR CHILD'S MOUTH WILL NOT OPEN!
    
    MOUTH-TO-NOSE ALSO WORKS!
    
    The necessities of putting support under the victim's neck, tilting the
    head back, making sure the tongue is clear from the throat and that
    there are no foreign objects in the mouth -- all absolute requirements
    for mouth-to-mouth according to what lifeguards are taught -- fly right
    out the window and into oblivion when the victim is your own child.
    
  
    John H-C

    Well, as I noted in my note about using the Heimlich Maneuver on
    my son, I found that I followed all the steps, just as I had been
    taught.   But he was still standing and pink, so I wasn't in panic.
    
    If you speak from experience, I'd like to hear your story (and I
    sure hope your child lived!).
    
    		-John Bishop

    She turned 7 last Sunday.
    
    According to the doctors who tended to her once she made it to the
    hospital, it was a miracle she survived. If she suffered any brain
    damage from oxygen deprivation, her IQ was way off the scale before the
    accident.
    
    Sorry, can't go into a lot of details about the incident. I still fall
    apart if I dwell on it for more than a few seconds, even after 5 years.
    
    John H-C