Do not get your holiday ruined!

03 JUNE 2019

While the seaside towns are fully packed with the beginning of the Ramadan Holiday and hot temperatures peaking, the experts warn citizens against the danger of drowning.

The experts warn citizens who will be spending their holiday at sea or at pools, and point out that properly trained lifeguard should be employed at such places.

Nursun Üstünkarlı, Lecturer at IUE Vocational School of Health Services, Paramedic Program, stated that based on the statistics by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), there were 54 drowning incidents in Turkey until the month of July last year, and 49 people died due to drowning. She stated that trying to swim without proper skills could result in death. Üstünkarlı said, “During the first moments of drowning, the trachea contracts and therefore, prevents water to reach the lungs. However, due to the unconsciousness occurring later on, it expands and allows water to reach the lungs, which could result in death”.

Üstünkarlı, who pointed that 112 should be called immediately for help in drowning emergencies, stated the following:

“The person calls out for help and tries to swim in a panic and fails to stay afloat. When that happens, 112 should be called immediately. If possible and safe to do so, the person needs to be approached. The savior should take precaution to maintain his/her safety first. Instead of swimming to the victim first, the victim should be reached via rope, life rings, float cushions, and life jackets, etc. If the victim needs to be taken from the sea by manpower, the savior needs to be sure of his/her strength and abilities. The savior needs to wear life jacket. The victim should be reached from behind calmly; otherwise, the victim might panic and cause the savior to drown as well. The victim should be held from underarms, under chin, and supported by the neck, and the head should be tilted to stay out of water. Certified people should perform first aid.”

Üstünkarlı stated that drowning victims needed to be taken out of the water and dried immediately in order to prevent hypothermia. The victim, if conscious, needs to be helped to get rid of the water in lungs, said Üstünkarlı. “If cyanosis is visible in lips, earlobes, and nails, the victim needs to be helped get rid of the water from the trachea and lungs. If the victim is totally unconscious, doesn’t breath, or doesn’t have a pulse, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be applied by a certified person,” said Üstünkarlı.