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.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

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.

View Full Profile

Care for the drowning patient will depend upon the situation surrounding the event, and how they have responded to pre-hospital care. The initial approach will be to stabilize vital signs by addressing the airway, breathing, and circulation to make certain the patient is breathing, has a good heart beat and adequate blood pressure to circulate blood to the organs of the body.

If the drowning occurred because of an injury, then those issues need to be assessed.

If a medical illness caused the drowning (for example, a seizure or heart attack), then the underlying illness will need medical care.

Supportive care is often required for the lungs because they can become inflamed due to aspiration (inhalation) of water during the drowning process.

Scuba diving events may require hyperbaric oxygen therapy should there be a potential risk of decompression illness. Many drowning victims are awake and stable by the time they arrive in the emergency department. Depending upon the circumstances, they may be observed for a period of time and discharged home.

Must Read Articles Related to Drowning

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States. Each year, almost half a million Americans die from a heart attack. Half of these, or one quarter of ...learn more >>

See the Entire Drowning Topic Guide »