Near Drowning

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 are the causes?

With a near drowning, the lungs fill with water or other fluid. This may happen because you are: ‚

Not able to get out of the water from:
- Not being able to swim
- Being trapped in the water
- Falling through thin ice
Unconscious in the water from:
- Very fast breathing
- Holding a breath for a long time that can lead to passing out
- Passing out from lack of oxygen in deeper waters
- Head injury
- A seizure

What can make this more likely to happen?

You are at a higher risk for drowning if you are: ‚

Male
Between 1 and 4 years old or between 15 and 24 years old
African American
From a family with low income
A person with a seizure illness

These actions can also raise your risk for drowning. ‚

Not learning how to swim
Not watching children with extra care near any kind of water
If there are no barriers or fences around a pool
Not wearing a life jacket when boating
Drinking beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) while boating or doing water sports

What are the main signs?

A person who is drowning cannot often shout for help. Just before drowning, you may see these signs: ‚

Struggling to breathe in the water
Gasping for air
Trying to hold breaths
Trying to roll over onto back to float
Eyes wide open with fear
Losing consciousness
Head tilted back with mouth open
Eyes glassy and not focused
Heart rate gets faster at first during panic and then gets slow

With a near drowning, the person may have these signs before being revived by CPR: ‚

No breathing
Loss of pulse
Bluish skin

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?

Your doctor will want to know the history of the event. The doctor will do an exam, looking for signs of brain and lung damage. The doctor will also check the whole body for other injuries that could have happened, as well as neck and spine injuries. The doctor may order tests like: ‚

Lab tests
X-rays
CT or MRI scan
Electroencephalogram or EEG to see how the brain is working

How does the doctor treat this health problem?

You may need extra help with breathing to keep your oxygen levels up. Sometimes, the doctor may order a breathing tube and ventilator to help with breathing. Other times, you may only need oxygen through a mask or through thin tubes that go into the end of the nose.
I.V. for fluids and nutrition if needed
Drugs
Surgery to fix damage such as neck injuries and brain swelling

Are there other health problems to treat?

There may be lasting damage to the brain if it is without oxygen. There may also be damage to the lungs. The fluid in your lungs may cause an infection or pneumonia. This most often happens with lake or river water. You may also have a low body temperature or hypothermia if it is very cold outside. This will need treatment as well. ‚

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

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.

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.

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. ‚

Home

Erectile Dysfunction

Doctor123.org