1. The Grief and Mourning Quiz

Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is drowning?
• What happens during drowning?
• What are the complications of drowning?
• Does the type of drowning matter?
• What are the risk factors of drowning?
• What are the symptoms of drowning?
• When should one seek medical care for drowning?
• How is drowning diagnosed?
• How is drowning treated?
• How can drowning be prevented?
• What is the prognosis for a drowning victim?
• Drowning Index

There are two peak ages for drowning: children aged younger than 4 and young adults aged 15 to 25.

• Children less than one year old most often drown in bathtubs.
  
  
• Children younger than age 5 most commonly drown in residential swimming pools.
  
  
• Young adults tend to drown in larger bodies of water (for example, rivers and lakes). Neck fractures caused by diving into shallow water are associated with drowning in this age group. Alcohol is also implicated in up to 50% of drownings in this age group.
  
  
• Medical emergencies that occur in the water can lead to drowning. These may include, among others, seizures, heart attack (myocardial infarction), sudden cardiac death, and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar in a person with diabetes).

The appearance of drowning can vary widely. A drowning victim may show no symptoms or complaints, or may be found deceased.

It is the rare person who is found thrashing in water. Instead, most drownings are unwitnessed and the person is found floating or submerged in the water.

For those who are alive, they may be anxious, confused, and short of breath. Again, it is the function of the brain and lungs that are the main concerns in drowning victims.

Special Situations

Young children may have a mammalian diving reflex. When they are suddenly immersed in cold water less than 68F (20C), they can stop breathing, slow their heart rate dramatically, and shunt all the blood flow to the heart and brain. Though not common, these children may be resuscitated and return to normal function. Cases have been reported of survival, even after being underwater for an hour.