DROWNING

TYPES

• Near drowning is where the patient has been rescued before the point of death.

• Dry drowning refers to where the victim becomes more deeply unconscious and their vocal cords spasm and close up as they try to breathe. In this type, the water has not reached the lungs, and as they try to breathe, water comes back to the pharynx and creates a stimulus that closes the larynx and epiglottis that leads the water to enter the stomach. The patient is suffocating due to their airway being sealed.
• Freshwater drowning, when breathing is intervened with freshwater and enters the lungs, the lungs will absorb the water thus will enter into the bloodstream. It will distort the pH value of the blood and is called haemodilution.

If drowned with freshwater, the victim will experience haemodilution up to 72 hours later and will potentially die.

Haemodilution in larger values will cause cardiac arrest within two to four minutes of rescue.

• Saltwater drowning,  this is the opposite of freshwater drowning, instead of freshwater, you get salt water. The patient blood’s viscosity increases and thus the circulation of the blood in the patient’s body becomes slower and sluggish to the point where it will cause cardiac arrest, usually occurring up to 12 minutes after rescue.

If the drowned situation is caused by saltwater, after many hours after the event, the victim may experience shocked lung syndrome or “pulmonary edema” which the patient may die from.

• Secondary drowning, it is where the patient has been rescued successfully and appears to be recovered yet, could still die after a couple of hours later.

SYMPTOMS

Someone who is experienced being drowned may not be able to respond, but there are also other symptoms, and these are:

• Vomiting
• Abdominal swelling
• Cold or bluish skin
• Shortness or lack of breath
• Chest pain
• Cough

Near-drowning may also cause complication such as:

• Brain damage
• Chemical and fluid imbalances in the body
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome
• Pneumonia
• Permanent vegetative state

Mostly, people can survive 24 hours before the initial event.

TREATMENT

You may attempt to rescue the drowned person if you are qualified to do so. If so, you can use these tips:

• Call for the nearest lifeguard or medical professional. If there is no lifeguard. Use safety object around you such as life rings and ropes to help the drowned victim if still conscious
• You need only to rescue an unconscious victim if you have the swimming skills for rescuing.
• As soon as the victim is out of the water, you can perform CPR. Only perform CPR if you have the skills and knowledge to do so.

Most of the time, the one with the skills and knowledge to rescue a drowned person is the most qualified to handle the situation. If you do not have the knowledge and skills, the first thing you need to do is call an emergency hotline.