Drowning or Near Drowning

If drowning or near drowning is suspected and the diver has lost consciousness and is not spontaneously breathing, initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as soon as possible (see below). The problem is that sufficient water has flooded the lungs to make it impossible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Without enough oxygen the brain begins to die and the organs fail. Brain death or damage begins after five minutes of anoxia (no oxygen). Hypothermia provides some protection and extends the permissible term of anoxia. If necessary, initiate CPR in the water with mouth-to-mouth or snorkel-to-mouth breathing and continue CPR for as long as possible until the diver begins to breathe on his or her own or until death is declared.

Drowning is seen under various circumstances. Underwater panic attack, entrapment in a reef or other entanglement, equipment failure that could have been avoided, uncontrolled rapid ascent, failure to inflate a buoyancy compensator, running out of air, failure to turn on the tank valve, failure to release weight belts when an emergency ascent is necessary are the common causes of drowning. In short, the vast majority of drownings are preventable with proper training and with the exercise of diligence in checking equipment, facilitating proper emergency management, and watching your air supply.