NEWS RELEASE: DPCA, FIRE DEPARTMENTS: MOUTH-TO-MOUTH CPR BY BYSTANDERS CRITICAL IN DROWNING INCIDENTS

CONTACT:

Lori Schmidt, DPCA Immediate Past President, Mobile (480) 272-1710

Tracy Koslowski, DPCA Advisory Council, Drexel Heights Fire District (520) 419-5863

DPCA, FIRE DEPARTMENTS: MOUTH-TO-MOUTH CPR

BY BYSTANDERS CRITICAL IN DROWNING INCIDENTS

August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month

Drowning is a quiet process.  There’s no splashing or yelling.

The person struggles to doggy paddle, gulping for air (and maybe swallowing water), followed quickly by the inability to speak, breathe properly or swim.

Simply put, drowning occurs when someone stops breathing because the body senses that they are beginning to take water in the lungs, and it automatically shuts down breathing completely.   Loss of consciousness happens quickly. A lack of air in the lungs causes the brain and heart to be starved of oxygen, which can lead to death.

Mouth-to-Mouth CPR is critical to stop the drowning process by providing the brain and heart the oxygen it so desperately needs.  Hands-only CPR in this scenario is just simply not enough.

“In the past 15 years, the push has been to increase bystander CPR for cardiac events.  This means more people have learned how to do continuous chest compressions, which is fantastic,” says Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona President Melissa Sutton. “But we can’t lose the importance of traditional CPR with breaths in respiratory events -- especially in drownings.  We must replenish the oxygen to the brain.”

The DPCA and Tucson area fire departments are encouraging the public to learn this important life-saving skill. Some are even offering free CPR classes to the public during the month of August as part of Drowning Impact Awareness Month.  Visit www.preventdrownings.org  and click “Learn CPR” under the Prevention tab for a list of available classes.  Some are certification; others are awareness classes.

“We know that CPR is the last line of defense if all other layers of protection have failed,” says Tracy Koslowski, Drexel Heights Fire District. “Being able to administer CPR before emergency responders arrive can make a difference between life and death, or prevent significant brain injury. If you have a child under the age of 5, it is vital you have this skill.”

​“This August, as we become distracted by back-to-school activities, please remain vigilant in keeping all layers of protection in place,” stresses Sutton. “Remember the ABC’s: Adult supervision, Barriers to prevent access to water, Coast-Guard approved life vests, Classes in swimming and, of course, mouth-to-mouth CPR.”

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The Drowning Prevention Coalition, a community based organization comprised of parents, health and safety professionals and business leaders, exists to provide a forum to prevent drowning and near drowning through the promotion of education, legislative action and enhanced product safety.  Check out our website at www.preventdrownings.org for more information.  Or find the DPCA on Facebook at @preventdrownings.org.