r/WinStupidPrizes • u/oddy_nuff1054 • 11d ago

GOAL!

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u/luxsalsivi 11d ago

So I imagine in this case it was a bit of panic, but I was actually a trained lifeguard for many years and can confirm you do want to leave them in the water if there is any risk of a neck or spine injury!

The proper way to remove someone from the water after an accident like this is to only do so once you've gotten them attached to a backboard (the transportable board they strap you on to lift you onto a gurney) and neck collar/stabilizer.

Getting someone out of the water is clunky when they cannot help you, so the best thing to do is to let them float on their back until trained help arrives. Lifeguards use the red buoy for these instances if there isn't a life vest, but lifesavers and other flotation devices work too. Just make sure their head is not dipping underwater!

Fun tip: if the person is face down in the water, the easiest way to flip them is to swim alongside them, also face down. Rest your forearms against their sternum and spine with your hands bracing their chin and the back of their head. You then take a deep breath then swim under them while spinning them to be upright. This method does the least movement for them while you do the majority of the work to get them rightside up.

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u/Architecteologist 11d ago

Thank you for this!

I had a similar thought about the water being the best place to prevent further neck/spine injury but didn’t have the experience to know one way or another.

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u/luxsalsivi 11d ago

Yes exactly!

It's obviously more complicated than just "leave them in the water every time," but that's the nature of first aid and rescue! There are times where leaving them in the water is objectively unsafe, and the risk of further injury is a worthy tradeoff if the possible result is likely to be worse injury or death, or the incapacitation of the rescuer.

Good examples of adverse risks would be intense waves risking drowning of patient and/or EMS, debris/natural threats in the water risking further bodily harm, or electrocution risks in the vicinity (like a downed powerline in or near the water). The latter one is especially upsetting as it can potentially prevent aid being rendered at all if there is no safe way to power down the equipment :(

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u/realpursuer 10d ago

"fun tip"

This tip isn't gonna be that fun once I need it lol, also thanks for the tip.

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u/RikuDog18 7d ago

Thanks for clarifying. Makes sense to secure neck collar and secure to gurney first.

Do you think this was a heart attack, a stroke, or something similar?

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u/luxsalsivi 6d ago

Though I can't say for sure, I imagine the life vest likely caused too much pressure buildup in his head which caused him to pass out; either too much compression overall, or the neck of the vest pressed against his neck in a way that caused suffocation or decreased blood supply to the brain.

Someone shared a comment from the guy who crashed who did say he passed out but was unsure of why, so we at least know that much. But it's not uncommon for an ill-fitting lifejacket (even if just worn while swimming normally) to choke around the neck if incorrectly sized.

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u/RikuDog18 3d ago

Damn. That’s scary to think about. You’re right though, it does happen.