Drowning

CDC Definition
CDC data about incidents of "dry drowning." CDC supports international consensus defining drowning as "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid" and does not distinguish between "wet" and "dry" drowning.
World Health Organization Definition
Drowning is defined as death by suffocation due to being immersed in water. There are two classifications of drowning: wet and dry. In wet drowning, the person has inhaled water which interferes with respiration and causes the circulatory system to collapse. In the less common instance of dry drowning, the airway closes up due to spasms caused by the presence of water. Near drowning may result in neurological damage and successful recovery depends on prompt rescue and resuscitation.
How big is the problem?
The following information was gathered from CDC:
In 2005, there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, averaging ten deaths per day. An additional 710 people died, from drowning and other causes, in boating-related incidents.

Cont…..
More than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger.1 For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (i.e., permanent vegetative state).
What situations commonly lead to a near drowning?
* Near drownings are very common accidents.
* Children can drown in just a couple inches of water.
* A child can drown in seconds.
* A drowning can happen anytime a child is left alone around water.
* A drowning can happen in a bathtub, child bathing seat, or sink.
* A drowning can happen in a bucket or toilet.
* A drowning can happen in a pool, hot tub, lake, river, ocean, etc.
* A drowning can happen while boating or fishing.
* Drownings that involve alcohol are common.
* A drowning can happen after falling through ice.
What is happening?
While you struggle to breathe, you force water into your sinuses. Coughing triggers an inhalation reflex, which pulls more water in to the lungs. The loss of air supply leads to unconsciousness. The heart stops shortly after. Any amount of water in your airway can cause a laryngospasm. Once that has occurred the airway can seal and lead to cardiac arrest because of oxygen deprivation. Some call this a “dry” drowning.
Fresh V.S. Salt
No difference in the mechanism of drowning. There are clues concerning whether the person drowned in fresh water or salt water.
Gettler Chloride Test: See handouts

Sources
http://www.cdc.gov/print.do?url=http%3A//www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/drown.htm

For the Gettler Chloride Test you must be familiar with the circulatory system.
You must know the path of blood and be able to draw it!
1. superior vena cava, inferior vena cava (from body)
2. right atrium (valve)
3. right ventricle (valve)
4. pulmonary artery (to lung)
5. lung and capillaries of lung
6. pulmonary vein (from lung)
7. left atrium (valve)
8. left ventricle (valve)
9. Aorta (to body)
capillaries of the body

Homework:
Quiz Thursday