injuries poisoning
Drowning
Key Points
Take preventive measures (eg, provide or take swimming lessons, closely supervise children around water, use flotation devices or life jackets that have been approved by the US Coast Guard or other equivalent authority, avoid alcohol, and ensure access to trained lifeguards and emergency medical services) to decrease the risk of drowning. Begin resuscitation of patients in cardiac arrest from drowning with rescue breathing, not chest compressions. Vigorously resuscitate cold water drowning victims even if submersion was prolonged; survival is possible even after 1 hour of submersion, particularly in young children. Evaluate patients for suspected causes of drowning (eg, cervical spine injury, head injury, seizure, arrhythmias, hypoglycemia) as well as injuries or consequences of drowning (eg, head or cervical spine injury, aspiration). 