Prehospital Emergency Care for Drowning

Drowning accidents are one of the less common indications for emergency services. Due to the different types of water (open sea, coastal sea, bathing lakes, rivers, swimming pools, private bodies of water), these missions are sometimes very demanding in terms of rescue and emergency medical care for those affected. In the event of cardiovascular arrest, which is usually the result of hypoxia in the event of a drowning accident, five ventilation strokes are recommended to start resuscitation. When performing resuscitation after a drowning accident, the factors "feasibility", "chances of survival" and "risks for the rescue personnel" should be part of the further decision-making process. Therefore, submersion time is an essential factor for the treatment result, which is why it should be determined as precisely as possible. Patients with additional accidental hypothermia should be admitted to a center with the possibility of extracorporeal rewarming.