Subdiaphragmatic pressure to expel water from the lungs of drowning persons

The Schafer artificial respiration method, which compressed the lungs to expel water, was abandoned in 1958 when mouth-to-mouth ventilation became the primary resuscitation method. Water thus remained in the lungs, making mouth-to-mouth ineffectual for treating drowning. Subdiaphragmatic pressure (Heimlich Maneuver) effectively evacuates water from the lungs by elevating the diaphragm and compressing the lungs. The method is safe because it eliminates compression of the rib cage. The first step in resuscitating a drowning person should be subdiaphragmatic pressure repeated until water ceases to flow from the mouth.