Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Drowning

Wilderness Environ Med. 2016 Jun;27(2):236-51. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2015.12.019. Epub 2016 Apr 6.

Abstract

The Wilderness Medical Society convened a panel to review available evidence supporting practices for the prevention and acute management of drowning in out-of-hospital and emergency medical care settings. Literature about definition and terminology, epidemiology, rescue, resuscitation, acute clinical management, disposition, and drowning prevention was reviewed. The panel graded evidence supporting practices according to the American College of Chest Physicians criteria, then made recommendations based on that evidence. Recommendations were based on the panel's collective clinical experience and judgment when published evidence was lacking.

Keywords: cold water submersion; drowning; hypothermia; immersion; submersion.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drowning / epidemiology
  • Drowning / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced
  • Rescue Work
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Resuscitation / methods*
  • Societies, Medical
  • Swimming
  • Wilderness Medicine

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents