It is officially summer 2016 where we will be spending a lot of time in pools, lakes, rivers and oceans. I came across the below write up on the Internet and thought of sharing because all that water fun comes with risks; more and more people with access to water die from drowning each year.
Knowing how to react to a drowning can prevent a tragedy. So here
is all about the American written article that applies to every scenario.
What
does drowning look like?
"Drowning
is a silent event. Typically, you don't hear or see someone flailing in the
water like it is portrayed on TV or in the movies," Sue Mackie, the
executive director of the U.S. Swim School Association (USSSA), told TODAY.
People
are who drowning — whether an adult or child — are often too busy trying to breathe and trying to stay afloat to be able
to call out for help.
Warning
signs include:
·
Mouth at water level and may alternate between being just above
the surface and just below it
·
Head tilted back as the person tries to float
·
Eyes glassy or closed
If you suspect someone is drowning, follow these guidelines:
·
"Throw,
Don't Go"— Never just jump in
because a drowning person can accidentally pull their rescuers under with them.
Tossing a lifesaving device, rope, towel, or even pool noodle helps the
drowning person without increasing risk to others.
·
Get
backup — Call 911 or
inform others that someone is drowning, so they can call 911, and let them know
you're helping. Alert lifeguards; they're trained to assist.
·
Help
from behind — When drowning
people see a rescuer coming toward them, they clutch and pull them under the
water. Approaching them from behind is safer for both the rescuer and the
victim.
·
Use
a life jacket — Wearing a
Coast Guard-approved life jacket prevents a rescuer from being pulled under by
a drowning person or an undercurrent. Life jackets are essential for rescues in
water with currents, such as lakes, rivers, and oceans.
·
Look
for signs of secondary drowning — If drowning is prevented, the victim might still have
water in his lungs and can suffocate hours later. Look for laboured breathing,
lethargy, and coughing hours afterward, which can indicate secondary drowning.
"Secondary drowning is very uncommon," said Mackie.
But it is still important for people to be aware that it can happen
even after it seems an accident was avoided.Victorine Mbong Shu.
Original Article on: http://drum.co.za/entertainment/book-review-involved-parenting/
Availability of book
Copies can be bought from the following avenues;
Victorine on +27 82 548 6385
My works on www.mbongshu.co.za
Publisher on +27 11 346 8300/www.profounder.co.za
Xarra Books: www.Xarrabooks.co.za
Online in South Africa: www.sabooksearch.co.za
Hard Copies: +27 11 440 7501- Johannesburg or www.profoundcentre.co.za
