DaytonDailyNews.com

Dr. Henry Heimlich

American Heart Association

"Drowning occurs when a victim's lungs fill with water."

"There is no need to clear the airway of aspirated water, because only a modest amount of water is aspirated by the majority of drowning victims...

"As long as water remains in the lungs, breathing is impossible... The simple truth is that you cannot get air into water-blocked lungs."

... and it is rapidly absorbed into the central circulation, so it does not act as an obstruction in the trachea ... The first and most important treatment of the drowning victim is the immediate provision of ventilation."

"The Heimlich Maneuver pushes up on the diaphragm, compressing the lungs. This quickly expels water from the lungs of drowning victims and jump starts breathing."

"Attempts to remove water from the breathing passages by any means other than suction (e.g., abdominal thrusts or the Heimlich maneuver) are unnecessary and potentially dangerous... it could eject gastric contents and cause aspiration."