Near drowning
Definition
"Near drowning" means a person
almost died from not being able to breathe (suffocating) under
water.
If a person has been rescued from
a near-drowning situation, quick first aid and medical attention
are very important.
Alternative Names
Drowning - near
Considerations
- 6,000 to 8,000 people drown in
the U.S. each year. Most drownings occur within a short distance of
safety. Immediate action and first aid can prevent
death
- A person who is drowning usually
can NOT shout for help. Be alert for signs of drowning
- Children can drown in only a few
inches of water
- It may be possible to revive a
drowning person even after a long period under water, especially if
the person is young and was in very cold water
- Suspect an accident if you see
someone in the water fully clothed. Watch for uneven swimming
motions, which indicate a swimmer is getting tired. Often the body
sinks, and only the head shows above the water
Causes
- Attempted suicide
- Blows to the head or seizures
while in the water
- Drinking alcohol while boating
or swimming
- Falling through thin
ice
- Inability to swim or panicking
while swimming
- Leaving small children
unattended around bathtubs and pools
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary, but may
include:
First Aid
When someone is
drowning:
- Do NOT place yourself in danger.
Do NOT get into the water or go out onto ice unless you are
absolutely sure it is safe
- Extend a long pole or branch to
the person, or use a throw rope attached to a buoyant object, such
as a life ring or life jacket. Toss it to the person, then pull him
or her to shore
- If you are trained in rescuing
people, do so immediately only if you are absolutely sure it will
not cause you harm
- Keep in mind that people who
have fallen through ice may not be able to grasp objects within
their reach or hold on while being pulled to safety
If the person's breathing has
stopped, begin rescue breaths as soon as you can. This often means
starting the breathing process while still in the water.
Continue to breathe for the
person every few seconds while moving him or her to dry land. Once
on land, give CPR if needed. For step-by-step instructions on
rescue breathing, see the article on CPR.
Always use caution when moving a
person who is drowning. Assume that the person may have a neck or
spine injury, and avoid turning or bending their neck. Keep the
head and neck very still during CPR and while moving the person.
You can tape the head to a backboard or stretcher, or secure the
neck by placing rolled towels or other objects around
it.
Follow these additional
steps:
- Give first aid for any other
serious injuries
- Keep the person calm and still.
Seek medical help immediately
- Remove any cold, wet clothes
from the person and cover with something warm, if possible. This
will help prevent hypothermia
- The person may cough and have
difficulty breathing once breathing re-starts. Reassure the person
until you get medical help
DO NOT
- DO NOT attempt a swimming rescue
yourself unless you are trained in water rescue
- DO NOT go into rough or
turbulent water that may endanger you
- DO NOT go out on the ice to
rescue a drowning person if you can reach the person with your arm
or an extended object
- The Heimlich maneuver is NOT part of the routine
rescue of near drownings. Do NOT perform the Heimlich maneuver
unless repeated attempts to position the airway and to use rescue
breathes to get air into the lungs have failed and you suspect the
person’s airway is blocked. Performing the Heimlich maneuver
increases the chances that an unconscious person will vomit and
subsequently choke on the vomit
When to Contact a Medical Professional
If you cannot rescue the drowning
person without endangering yourself, call for emergency medical
assistance immediately. If you are trained and able to rescue the
person, do so and then call for medical help.
All near-drowning patients should
be checked by a doctor. Even though the person may revive quickly
at the scene, lung complications are common. Fluid and body
chemical (electrolyte) imbalances may develop, and other traumatic
injuries may be present.
Prevention
- Avoid drinking alcohol whenever
swimming or boating
- Drowning can occur in any
container of water. Do not leave any standing water (in empty
basins, buckets, ice chests, kiddy pools, or bathtubs). Secure the
toilet seat cover with a child safety device
- Fence all pools and spas. Secure
all the doors to the outside, and install pool and door
alarms
- If your child is missing, check
the pool immediately
- Never allow children to swim
alone or unsupervised regardless of their ability to
swim
- Never leave children alone for
any period of time, or let them leave your line of sight around any
pool or body of water. Drownings have occurred when parents left
"for just a minute" to answer the phone or door
- Observe water safety
rules
- Take a water safety
course
References
Knaut AL. Feldhaus KM.
Submersion. In: Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and
Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby;
2006.
Review Date: 1/15/2009
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia
Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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