Drowning

Death caused by suffocation and hypoxia (lack of oxygen) associated with immersion in a fluid. Most often, the person inhales liquid into the lungs; sometimes, no liquid enters the lungs, a condition called dry drowning (see drowning, dry). People who are resuscitated after prolonged immersion are said to be victims of “near drowning”. Initially, automatic contraction of a muscle at the entrance to the windpipe, a mechanism called the laryngeal reflex, prevents water from entering the lungs; instead it enters the oesophagus and stomach. However, the laryngeal reflex impairs breathing and can quickly lead to hypoxia and to loss of consciousness. If the person is buoyant at this point and floats face-up, his or her chances of survival are reasonable because the laryngeal reflex begins to relax and normal breathing may resume. An ambulance should be called and the person’s medical condition assessed. If breathing and/or the pulse is absent, resuscitative measures should be started (see artificial respiration; cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and continued until an ambulance or doctor arrives. Victims can sometimes be resuscitated, despite a long period immersed in very cold water (which reduces the body’s oxygen needs) and the initial appearance of being dead. In all cases of successful resuscitation, the person should be sent to a hospital.