PEOPLE WHO WERE DROWNING WERE FLOODED. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ELEMENT IN WATER
According to information received from rescuers, bathers are often carried away by the surf wave. It is a type of wave that breaks in what is called a surf zone, i.e. places where waves hit (bounce off) the beach. There, a plow current (also called a rip or drag stream) is created in the opposite, backward direction, i.e. from shore to sea.
The power of such a current is very great. When a person enters it, the wave does not immediately pull him under water, but pushes him away from the shore, sometimes a long way. It is also very difficult to get out of such flood.
According to Mateusz Wawryszuk, paramedic and lifeguard recertification, reverse currents and waves are one of the biggest threats we face in the Baltic Sea.
– At our beach, weather conditions, waves and reverse currents are a threat. Drowning occurs especially in the latter because we try to sustain ourselves there using techniques that work best in normal water conditions. For example, we are trying to swim to the shore, but it is against the current, so the effectiveness of such an action is close to zero. It is also impossible to go with the flow, because it can throw us into the sea. To get out of such a flood it is better to go aside. Fortunately, the reverse currents are not very wide – you can quickly get out and swim to the shore, as long as you know what to do and in which direction to go – he emphasizes.
TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO SAVE DROWNING PEOPLE
One of the reasons for the magnitude of the Jantar tragedy is that citizens who are not properly trained in water rescue have rescued drowning people. According to Mateusz Wawryszuk, saving a drowning person is a big challenge even for a lifeguard who is prepared for such situations, knows the procedures and has professional equipment. A citizen who does not have these advantages exposes himself to mortal danger by jumping into the water to save a drowning person.
– It doesn’t matter if we can swim. Swimming skills, even if they are amazing, are not enough to help a drowning person. Lifeguards never enter the water without a wetsuit. Helping a drowning person, in addition to knowledge of special holds and swimming techniques in water rescue, is very difficult and dangerous even for a lifeguard. Therefore, at the first aid level with water, we help only as a last resort – says the lifeguard.
HOW TO HELP A DROWNING PERSON?
So how can we help when we see someone drowning? First, we give the drowning person something to hold on to. – A rescue crampon, a long stick is ideal. We pass it straight into the hands of the drowning man; Such assistance is fast – accurate and efficient, and we are safe because we stay ashore. As a last resort, we improvise and find what we can offer that person. It can be a stick, a towel, a sun umbrella, a curtain, anything – experts advise.
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If the object we entrust to the drowning person is too far to reach, we have two options. – First we try to throw this thing to him. We are looking for a lifebuoy or lifebuoy in the vicinity. did we miss We will download and try again. did we hit We pull the rope. Remember to hold the end of the throw! We are careful not to hit the head with such a wheel, so we aim at the drowning person, not at him. The wheel reaches it with the force of its momentum
If this doesn’t work, we can swim to the drowning person. – Preferably by boat, pedalo, kayak or SUP board. It can be anything in our hands that floats in the water and has high buoyancy: a wheel, a bed we used to swim on.
- We never shake hands! We approach and carefully hand or push the item into the drowning person’s hand.
- We come both if we can swim and only when it is safe in the water.
- We never risk our own lives – warns the lifeguard.
The advice contained in the publication does not represent complete knowledge of first aid for a drowning person. Water conservation requires professional training.
