Self Explanatory

1. Barry Kidd 2010 1
Aquatic Emergencies

2. Barry Kidd 2010 2
Overview
 Types of Aquatic Emergencies
 Near-Drowning and Drowning Emergencies
 Causes of Drowning
 Diving Emergencies
 Safety Measures when dealing with Aquatic
Emergencies
 Mammalian Diving Reflex
 Deep-Water Diving Emergencies
 Emergency Care for Aquatic Emergencies

3. Barry Kidd 2010 3
Types of Aquatic Emergencies
While drownings are the type of fatality
most commonly associated with water
emergencies, drownings are actually
responsible for only about 1:20 water
related deaths.
The rest of the drownings are mostly
caused by diving and deep-water
exploration, boating, and water skiing.

4. Barry Kidd 2010 4
Near-Drowning and Drowning
Emergencies
Near-drownings and
drownings do not
always occur in large
bodies of water
An adult can drown in
just a few inches of
water, and an infant in
even less!

5. Barry Kidd 2010 5
Near-Drowning and Drowning
Emergencies
Near-drowning is defined as survival, at
least temporarily (24 hours), from near
suffocation due to submersion
Drowning is defined as death from
suffocation due to submersion

6. Barry Kidd 2010 6
Near-Drownings and Drownings
Emergencies
Do not get tunnel vision by associating the
following symptoms with near-drowning
emergencies:
 Airway obstruction
 Cardiac arrest
 Shock
 Spinal/Head Injuries
 External/Internal Bleeding
 Hypothermia

7. Barry Kidd 2010 7
Causes of Drowning
The major causes of drowning include the
following:
 Getting exhausted in the water
 Losing control and getting swept into water
that is too deep
 Losing a support (sinking boat)
 Getting trapped or entangled in the water
 Using drugs or alcohol before getting into the
water

8. Barry Kidd 2010 8
Causes of Drowning
 Suffering from a medical emergency
while in the water
 Using poor judgment while in the water
 Suffering hypothermia
 Suffering trauma
 Having a diving accident
 Panic

9. Barry Kidd 2010 9
Diving Emergencies
Near-drownings can be additionally
complicated in cases where diving is
involved
ALWAYS ASSUME THAT A
DIVER HAS
SUSTAINED NECK AND
SPINAL INJURIES!

10. Barry Kidd 2010 10
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
As an Emergency Medical Responder, you
must be made aware of the following safety
measures:
 You need to reach the patient, but you must
do so with the utmost concern for your OWN
SAFETY!
 Many drowning victims of water-related
emergencies can be saved by basic life support
measures (suctioning airway, AR)
 Do not let your desire to provide these
simple life-saving measures overwhelm your
judgment!

11. Barry Kidd 2010 11
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
 Remember that water can conceal many
hazards:
 Holes
 Sharp drop-offs
 Under water entanglements
 Currents

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13. Barry Kidd 2010 13
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
As an Emergency Medical Responder, NEVER go out
into the water to attempt a rescue unless you meet all of
the following criteria:
 You are a good swimmer
 You are especially trained in water rescue techniques
 You are wearing a personal floatation device
 You are accompanied by other rescuers
Failure to follow these guidelines can result in your
becoming a patient or a fatality also!

14. Barry Kidd 2010 14
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
If the patient is responsive and close to
shore, remember:
REACH, THROW, ROW, GO

15. Barry Kidd 2010 15
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
The following are
steps to be taken if
the patient is
conscious and close
to shore.
If the patient is close
to the shore or in a
pool, hold out an
object to grab and pull
the patient from the
water

16. Barry Kidd 2010 16
Safety Measures When Dealing
With Aquatic Emergencies
 If no object is available or time is a factor, and
the patient is close to you, you can use yourself
to grab the patient, by laying down flat on your
stomach and extending your arm or leg.
 Make sure that you are secure, and you will
not be pulled in. If the patient is too far, you
must carefully throw out an object that will float.
 Once the patient has a firm grasp on the
floatation device, you must find a way to tow and
bring the patient into shore

17. Barry Kidd 2010 17
Mammalian Diving Reflex
When the face of humans has been
submerged in cold water, a reaction
occurs in the body where the body’s
metabolism slows down.
With this metabolism slowing down, it
decreases the body’s oxygen consumption
and shunts blood to the vital organs (brain,
lungs, and heart)

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19. Barry Kidd 2010 19
Deep-Water Diving
Emergencies
A major complication
of deep-water diving
emergencies is coma,
which can result from
an air embolism, or
decompression
sickness
Boy do I
have
to pee…is
anyone
looking!

20. Barry Kidd 2010 20
Deep-Water Diving
Emergencies
Air Embolism is a blocking of blood vessels by
an air bubble or clusters of air bubbles. During a
dive, pressure on the diver’s body increases as
they descend. If the diver ascends rapidly while
holding their breath, the lungs and alveoli
become damaged, resulting in air bubbles
entering the bloodstream.
Signs and Symptoms of an Air Embolism often
appear within 15 minutes of a diver’s surfacing.

21. Barry Kidd 2010 21
Deep-Water Diving
Emergencies
Signs and Symptoms of an Air
Embolism are as follows:
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Nausea/vomiting
Frothy blood in the nose and mouth
Blurred or distorted vision
Personality change

22. Barry Kidd 2010 22
Deep-Water Diving
Emergencies
Treatment for Deep-Water Diving Emergencies
is as follows:
If no signs of neck/spinal injury, position the
patient on a board on their left side with their
entire body declined approx. 15 degrees (to
force air and gas bubbles to stay in the
abdomen).
High flow oxygen (will reduce size and levels of
nitrogen in the bloodstream). Treat for shock.
Vital Signs. Reassurance. Monitor vital signs.
Transport to advanced care.

23. Barry Kidd 2010 23
Emergency Care for Aquatic
Emergencies
 Establish scene safety
 Establish ABC’s
 Remove the patient from the water as quickly and safely
as possible
 If you suspect a spinal injury, maintain in-line
stabilization and then secure the patient to a spine board
before removing them from the water
 If you do not suspect a spinal injury, place the patient on
their left side
 Begin CPR if needed
 Suction as needed

24. Barry Kidd 2010 24
Emergency Care for Aquatic
Emergencies
 Provide high flow oxygen
 Watch for gastric distention
 Treat for shock
 Monitor vital signs
 Keep patient as calm as possible
 Reassurance
 Transport to advanced care

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26. Barry Kidd 2010 26
Aquatic Emergencies
Remember:
A near-drowning patient can develop
complications that lead to death as long as 72
hours after the incident.
Perform CPR on all drowning victims, with
absence of a pulse, CPR has to be continued
until the patient arrives at the hospital
Patient is not dead unless they are warm and
dead

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Summary
 Types of Aquatic Emergencies
 Near-Drowning and Drowning Emergencies
 Causes of Drowning
 Diving Emergencies
 Safety Measures when dealing with Aquatic
Emergencies
 Mammalian Diving Reflex
 Deep-Water Diving Emergencies
 Emergency Care for Aquatic Emergencies

28. Barry Kidd 2010 28
ANY QUESTIONS?