294 Physiology. 



Before natural breathing is fully restored, do not let the patient lie on 

 his back unless some person holds his tongue forward. The tongue by 

 falling backward may close the windpipe and cause fatal choking. 



Prevent friends from crowding around the patient and excluding the 

 fresh air ; also from trying to give stimulants before the patient can 

 swallow. The first causes suffocation ; the second, fatal choking. 



Do not give up too soon : you are working for life. Any time within 

 two hours you may be on the very threshold of success without there 

 being any sign of it. 



Learn to Swim. Of course, persons who cannot swim ought not to 

 go out in a boat without taking along some sort of a float that may 

 serve as a life-preserver. Some of the rubber cushions serve well for 

 this. Every father neglects his duty if he does not teach his children, 

 girls as well as boys, to swim and to float. One cool, trained person 

 may save the lives of a whole boat load. 



When a Boat Upsets. In case an ordinary rowboat is overturned, 

 one should not attempt to climb into it or upon it. It takes very little 

 to float a person in water, as the body is only a little heavier than 

 water ; in fact, if a person fills the lungs and lies back in the water his 

 face and nose will keep above water, and a person (at any rate without 

 clothing) can float in this way for some time if he breathes lightly. 

 Few persons have been taught these facts, and most of those who have 

 learned them lose their presence of mind, and waste their breath and 

 strength in wild and fruitless splashing. If a boat be overturned, those 

 who can swim should help those who cannot to get hold of the edge 

 of the boat, but not permit them to climb upon it. A small plank 

 will float a person if he does not try to lift much of his body out of 

 the water. 



Suffocation in Wells. Persons are sometimes suffocated by carbon 

 dioxid in wells and cisterns. Before going down into a well, it is a 

 safe precaution to lower a lighted candle. If this is extinguished, a 

 warning is given. If a second person goes down after one who has 

 become unconscious, great care must be taken that two lives are not 

 lost. A rope should be firmly tied about the body, a hook, attached to 

 another rope, taken to catch into the clothing of the first, and the 

 rescuer should be lowered quickly and brought up immediately. A 

 small rope or large cord might be carried, by pulling which the signal 

 is given to pull up. In resuscitating from carbon dioxid suffocation use 



