HPR 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Lifesaving, Physical Fitness, Triage
12 Jun 2018
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Chapter 25 – Rescuing and Moving Injured People
Rescue
Water Rescue
- Reach-throw-row-go: reach for a pole, ladder, long stick; throw it to the person, row to them,
pull the person into a boat, or tow them to safety.
- If reach, throw, and row are impossible, and you are a capable swimmer trained in water
lifesaving procedures, you can go to the drowning person by swimming.
- Drowning
o Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from
submersion/immersion in liquid
o Drowning includes all types of liquid except body fluids
o For droig to our, usually at least the perso’s fae ust e iersed or oered
in water.
Distressed Swimmer
Drowning Person-
Active
Drowning Person -
Passive
Head position
Above water
Tilted back with face
looking up
Faceup or face down in
the water; submerged
Appearance and facial
expressions
Trying to support self
by holding or clinging
to a lane line or safety
line, expression of
concern for personal
safety
Struggling to keep or
get head above water,
struggling to reach
surface, expression of
panic/wide-eyed
Limp or convulsive
movements, floating or
submerged, eyes may
be closed
Breathing
Is breathing
Struggles to breathe
Not breathing
Arm and leg action
Floating, sculling or
treading water, might
wave for help
Arms to sides or in
front, alternately
moving up and pressing
down
None
Body position
Horizontal, vertical or
diagonal depending on
support
Vertical, leaning slightly
back
Horizontal or vertical
Locomotion
Little or no forward
progress, less and less
able to support self
None
None
Sounds
Able to call for help but
may not do so
Cannot call out for help
None
Location
At the surface
At the surface,
underwater or sinking
Floating at the surface,
sinking or submerged
on the bottom
- Care for drowning person
o Survey scene
o If person was diving, suspect spinal injury, support person above water, and keep them
straight
o Check breathing, resuscitate person if they have been submerged for more than 60 min
o If no injury is suspected, resuscitate person and then place them on their sides
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
- Cold Water Immersion
o Water less than 70 degrees F is considered cold.
o A person immersed in cold water experiences heat loss about 25 times faster than
someone exposed to cold air.
o Cold water immersion is associated with drowning and hypothermia.
o The speed at which a person cools depends on a few factors
▪ Body fat: the more body fat a person has, the slower cooling occurs. More fat
increases survival chances
▪ Body type: bigger people cool slower, kids cool quicker than adults.
▪ Physical fitness: cardiovascular fitness can help meet the stress of cold water
immersion, but physically fit people have less fat for insulation
▪ Water temp: the colder the water, the faster a person cools
▪ Clothing: can insulate
▪ Alcohol: people drinking have impaired judgment and coordination and it dilates
the ski’s lood essels hih allos ore heat to esape
▪ Behaior: siig ireases the flo of ar lood for the ody’s ore to
the muscles, increasing the cooling rate. So, swimmers would die first because
they would tread water rather than float.
o A heat escape lessening position (HELP) has been devised where a person draws the
knees close to the chest, presses arms to the sides and remains quiet. For a group of
people, they can huddle.
Ice Rescue
- Is a person has fallen through the ice, extend a pole or throw a line with a floatable object
attached to it. When the person grabs hold, pull them towards shore
- DO NOT go near broken ice without support.
- If the person has fallen in ice and you a’t reach them, lie flat and push a ladder or object in
front of you.
Electric Emergency Rescue
- Most indoor electrocutions are caused by faulty electrical equipment or the careless use of
electrical appliances
- If the electrocution involves high voltage power lines, the power must be turned off before
anyone approaches the person.
- If you approach a person and feel a tingling sensation in your legs and lower body, stop because
you are on energized ground and an electric current is going in one foot and out the other. Hop
on one foot to a safe place.
Hazardous Materials Incidents
- Almost any highway crash scene involves the potential danger of hazardous materials
o Look for warning signs on the vehicle: explosive, flammable, corrosive. DO NOT move
closer and risk exposure
o Watch for a leak or spill from a tank, container, truck, or railroad car with or without
hazardous materials
o A strong noxious odor can denote a hazardous material
o A cloud or strange-looking smoke from the escaping substance suggests you should stay
away
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 25 rescuing and moving injured people. Reach-throw-row-go: reach for a pole, ladder, long stick; throw it to the person, row to them, pull the person into a boat, or tow them to safety. If reach, throw, and row are impossible, and you are a capable swimmer trained in water lifesaving procedures, you can go to the drowning person by swimming. Trying to support self by holding or clinging to a lane line or safety line, expression of concern for personal safety. Floating, sculling or treading water, might wave for help. Little or no forward progress, less and less able to support self. Able to call for help but may not do so. Care for drowning person: survey scene. Struggling to keep or get head above water, struggling to reach surface, expression of panic/wide-eyed. Arms to sides or in front, alternately moving up and pressing down. Faceup or face down in the water; submerged.
