Most of the people go to various resorts in summer to enjoy the sea and the pool. However, drowning cases increase most during these seasons. Pediatrician who studies the danger of suffocation, Dr. Paul Genser talks about the increasing number of children with brain damage as a result of drowning.
In other words, we can say that children constitute an important risk group for drowning. Of course, not only children are at risk, but even adults who are experienced in swimming can drown. So let’s see what’s the best way to stand upright to avoid choking.
In a study, it is said that in an emergency while in the water, it is necessary to immediately think prudently and apply a special movement technique.
The participant group of the research is made up of experienced swimmers, and all of them are familiar with the techniques they will apply in case of drowning. This 21-member group begins experimenting with methods of standing upright in the water such as ‘finstroke’, ‘running’, breaststroke’ and ‘eggbeater’.
Each swimmer practices these four methods one after the other, limited to 3 minutes each. The result is quite surprising.
While all of the swimmers are under the water, every detail is checked, from the fullness of the oxygen cylinders to the amount of carbon dioxide they produce under the water, to their heart rate. First of all, it is desired to test the mental structures of the participants under water.
On top of that, some clues are projected onto the screen from the first minute after going under the water. Athletes are asked to respond verbally to these, and then swimmers are asked to practice these upright standing techniques.
The eggbeater doesn’t just help you make cakes, it also saves you underwater.
As can be seen from the performance of the swimmers in the research, first the egg beater and secondly the upright breaststroke method is life-saving. Running and flipping are the methods that can be preferred at the third and fourth levels.
In fact, during drowning, most people panic and toss their bodies from place to place. This is quite wrong. According to the research, the most important detail is calmness; We already said that at the beginning. In other words, the first rule is not to panic in an emergency in the water.
drowning in the sea; It is not easy unless there is a serious problem such as current, eddy or wave. As long as you don’t make very unbalanced movements for your life, the water will lift you.
Now let us tell you how the methods mentioned in this research are done.
First of all, the movement called egg beater is started by bringing both arms and legs to the same condition (you can think of it as moving them at the same time). Taking a position as if sitting in the water, the arms are opened to both sides by slightly bending the elbows. Then the hands are turned as if beating eggs.
In the meantime, the feet are moved as if they are pedaling while riding a bicycle. However, the only difference here is that you have to turn your legs not as if pushing forward, but as if drawing a circle to the side.
Of course, both legs are not in the same direction, but in different directions; It can be moved outwards, backwards, forwards and inwards. When you combine the visual in the picture given in the previous title with the things I have explained, you can understand more clearly how the movement is done. As we mentioned above, you need to be very calm while doing these movements.
Now let’s explain the breaststroke method; The important thing in this technique is how the feet are used. It is necessary to push by opening the feet outward like a frog is preparing to jump. The arms are stretched forward and placed on top of each other, with both hands crossed.
Then the feet are opened wide to the side and then closed. This technique helps a drowning person get to shore quickly. However, even if the head is submerged in water, it is necessary to remove the head and breathe in between and then continue swimming again.
Think of finstroke as the technical version of the freestyle swimming position. In this style, a swimming-like condition is taken and it is necessary to push the water back by slightly breaking the feet as if there are flippers. It’s kind of like tapping your foot into the water. In this position, the hands can be pretended to take small strokes in the water.
The running position is a difficult position that requires a lot of effort. Also, this move won’t get you going fast. Therefore, it is not considered to be a choking preventative. With your head out of the water, you have to quickly turn your little little foot as if you were running in the water. You can think of this foot movement as quickly pedaling on a small bike.
On the one hand, the hands are rotated slightly forward, as do people running outside. In fact, we can say that the hands are turned as if they are punching in water. Of course, while doing this, it is necessary to breathe constantly, because at that moment there is a high probability of being out of breath. So, do any of you say that they already know these techniques? You can share your views with us in the comments.
- Sources: Frontiers, Uci Health, YouTube
- Image Sources: Active SG, Insinct Magazine, Health, The Telegraph, New Scientist, Dick’s Sporting Goods Pro Tips
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