CPR in water when close to shore / boat what to do first?

[victor]

I have never been fully convinced on CPR while floating, if a hard surface (boat or shore) is nearby. The decision for a fast tow to shore or start CPR is a difficult one.
Maybe a qualified medic can give us an answer to this.

Oviously too much time away from the sea :daydreaming:

 

[ekremer]

I did Padi rescue a number of years ago, but I seem to remember being instructed to just do rescue breaths until you get back to boat/shore. and that compressions are ineffective in the water.

 

[g1138]

2-4 minutes of O2 starvation before brain damage occurs. If you can get them to dry land in roughly that time and it would take you longer to strip gear or perform rescue breathing then I think you should do the former.
I still don't believe CPR will work in-water unless the diver's wearing a rigid backplate/pad.

To give you some insight, the lifeguard agencies that teach in-water CPR use a long rigid backboard, and even then it's usually relegated to water parks where they can stand; keep in mind that in that situation you'll always work in at least a pair of 2 or more.

 

[Ordie]

you cannot perform CPR in the water, the patient will become a drowning victim. perform Rescue breaths until you reach shore or the boat.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

ditto what Ordie said. And given the focus on the efficacy of compressions over breaths in cpr these past few years, we now focus on rapid movement of the distressed diver to shore, dock or boat.
DivemasterDennis

 

[nimoh]

even on a rigid backboard, I am guessing that every compression would result in the victim being pushed underwater, and if they are, then they are not getting sufficient compressions.

 

[tracydr]

It is not possible to do effective compressions in-water. Rescue breaths, yes. Compressions, no.

 

[mainedvr]

Hope I am not hijacking this thread, but I was speaking to an insurance agent about life insurance. When the question about scuba diving came of course I answered it honestly. Anyhow when I asked why that would put me in a different rate the lady went on to say that well you know what happens if your below a certain depth and they have to bring you up? I stated no I am not aware, she went on to tell me that they have to basically drowned you so that they can bring you to the surface.

While I can see if your not exhaling and someone tries to bring you to the surface you could maybe have an over expansion, but wouldnt that only be if you were holding in your breath if your unconscious, wouldn't the air expel from your lungs naturally. Or is that a chance that is not taken and so they would fill your lungs with water?

I just thought it funny she would mention it, maybe trying to convince me that diving is no good...
I am not going to try this on my own if you may be thinking that

 

[nimoh]

Hope I am not hijacking this thread, but I was speaking to an insurance agent about life insurance. When the question about scuba diving came of course I answered it honestly. Anyhow when I asked why that would put me in a different rate the lady went on to say that well you know what happens if your below a certain depth and they have to bring you up? I stated no I am not aware, she went on to tell me that they have to basically drowned you so that they can bring you to the surface.

While I can see if your not exhaling and someone tries to bring you to the surface you could maybe have an over expansion, but wouldnt that only be if you were holding in your breath if your unconscious, wouldn't the air expel from your lungs naturally. Or is that a chance that is not taken and so they would fill your lungs with water?

I just thought it funny she would mention it, maybe trying to convince me that diving is no good...
I am not going to try this on my own if you may be thinking that

little bit of a hijack, but probably a good story for this thread: surprised-how-non-divers-perceive-diving

In any case, I would recommend getting a different insurance company, on that bases their rates on facts.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

The thinking on rescue breathing is changing over time ... it's all well and good to push air into the patient's lungs, but if blood isn't circulating then only a tiny amount will diffuse into tissues, and almost none will get to the brain. For this reason, if a boat or shore is nearby, then it is better to get the patient to shore as quickly as possible, where you can start blood circulation via chest compressions.

Chest compressions are way more effective than rescue breathing for getting oxygen to the brain ... don't choose a slower transport method in order to do rescue breaths ... you can get a patient to shore or boat much faster using a tank tow than you will using a do-si-do ... and those minutes you save may well be the difference between a rescue and a recovery ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)