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Near Drowning Discharge Instructions


About this topic


A drowning accident can happen in as little as 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water. It can also happen in pools, hot tubs, lakes, and rivers. ‚  
Near drowning is almost dying because you are not able to breathe under water. Your lungs fill with liquid. Normally, your lungs are filled with air. They help you get oxygen into your blood. Without oxygen, you will eventually die. Near drowning may lead to lasting brain damage. This is because parts of the brain suffer from not enough oxygen. ‚  

What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Your care at home will depend on how much harm there is to the brain. Mild cases may need very little care. Very bad cases may result in long-term change in mental state. People with very bad cases may need a lot of care.
  • Healing may continue slowly over time. It is important to be patient.
  • Make sure family and friends know of your injury and how to help.
  • Rehab care will be very important. You may need specific help with:
    • Basic skills like walking and dressing
    • Communication skills like talking
    • Brain skills like memory, thinking, and focusing
  • Stay away from beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) until you get well.

What follow-up care is needed?


You need special care after a near drowning. It may take a long time for you to return to your life before the injury. Rehab care may help your brain function return. It may also speed your healing. Be sure to follow your rehab plan closely. Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. In severe cases, long-term care at a health care facility may be needed. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


The doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Help with breathing
  • Help with pain and swelling
  • Control blood sugar
  • Treat or prevent seizures

Will physical activity be limited?


Physical activity may be limited for some time. Activities that call for thinking or recall might also be limited. Check with your doctor about when you can return to your normal activities. Your activities may be limited as long as you have the signs of this health problem. If you have had a seizure, check your state laws about driving. When you return to work, talk to your employer about your workload. Make sure teachers know of the problem if you are in school. ‚  

What changes to diet are needed?


Your diet at home may need to change. This will depend on how much harm there is to your body. Some people have problems with chewing or swallowing after an accident. Talk to your doctor about the right kind of diet for you. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Lung infection (pneumonia)
  • Ongoing breathing problems
  • Need for a ventilator or breathing machine
  • Long-term brain damage
  • Disability

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


Bathtub and Bathroom Safety ‚  
  • Never leave a child or baby alone in the tub, even for a few seconds. Always take your baby with you if you need to leave the area.
  • Bath rings and baby baths do not keep a baby from drowning. They can easily tip or slip down into the water.
  • Childproof your home. Use locking tools on toilets. Use doorknob safety covers.

Pool and Water Safety ‚  
  • Always have an adult who is in charge of watching the child who is swimming. The adult should not be busy on the phone, playing cards, or doing other distracting activities.
  • Never leave children alone at pools, lakes, and oceans. Always watch them even if there is a lifeguard on duty.
  • Put up a four-sided fence around your pool. Do not use your house as one of the sides of the fence. This is safer if you have children.
  • Make sure your fence has a self-closing gate and a lock that is out of reach of children.
  • Take all toys out of the pool when you are done swimming. This may keep a child from trying to reach a toy and falling in. Do not use air-filled toys or flotation devices such as rafts or water wings for safety. Nothing can take the place of good supervision.
  • If you have an above ground pool, remove the ladder each time you are finished swimming.
  • Always drain small wading pools when you are done swimming.
  • Look into having a pool alarm put in. If you do this, do not use this as a substitute for supervising your child.

Lakes, Rivers, and Boating Safety ‚  
  • Never leave children alone near any water including buckets and puddles. Drowning can happen even in buckets and puddles.
  • Do not let kids near any drains or pipes where they could become trapped. Use proper drain covers.
  • Always use life jackets when boating.
  • Never have beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) or drugs when driving a boat.
  • If you are at a beach, swim safely. Swim in areas where lifeguards are on duty.
  • If you get pulled in by a rip current in the ocean, swim sideways or parallel to the shore to get out of the current. Once out of the current, swim at an angle to the shore.
  • Do not dive into shallow water or rocky areas. Hitting your head can cause you to become unconscious and drown.

Be Ready for Emergencies. ‚  
  • Make sure that your pool has life rings and reaching poles in case of an emergency.
  • Learn CPR in case an accident happens.
  • Take swimming lessons if you do not know how to swim. Start your children in swimming lessons at an early age.
  • Always know about weather conditions and rip current warnings when swimming or boating.
  • Never swim alone. Use the buddy system.
  • If you have a seizure problem, do not be around or in water alone.

When do I need to call the doctor?


Problems with your brain like: ‚  
  • More confusion, drowsiness, or any change in being aware
  • Very sleepy (more than expected) or hard to wake up
  • Headache gets worse or feels different

Problems with your eyes, ears, or mouth like: ‚  
  • Trouble speaking or slurred speech
  • A change in the size of one pupil (black part of your eye) as compared to the other eye

Problems with how you feel like: ‚  
  • Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills
  • Upset stomach and throwing up that will not go away
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Staggering or trouble walking
  • Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
  • Stiff neck
  • Not able to care for yourself at home
  • Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse

Helpful tips


  • Do not put yourself in danger when trying to rescue someone struggling in the water. Yell for someone to call for emergency help and then try to rescue the person only if it is safe.
  • Be careful when moving someone who is drowning. Do not move the neck and head if possible in case the person has a neck injury. Keep the neck as still as possible during CPR.

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet, drugs, or activities.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have more confusion, trouble speaking, or feel dizzy.

Where can I learn more?


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚  
http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html ‚  
KidsHealth ‚  
http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/safety_drowning.html# ‚  
Safe Kids USA ‚  
http://www.safekids.org/our-work/research/fact-sheets/drowning-prevention-fact-sheet.html ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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