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Lack of oxygen causes aerobic metabolism to stop, and the body becomes
acidotic. If not corrected quickly, the lack of oxygen in combination with too much
acid may lead to problems with the electrical conduction system of the heart
(cardiac arrest) and lack of blood supply to the brain.
As body function declines, aspiration may occur as the larynx relaxes allowing
water to enter the lungs.
RISK FACTORS
There are two peak ages for drowning: children aged younger than 4 and young
adults aged 15 to 25.
Infants less than one year old most often drown in bathtubs.
Young adults tend to drown in larger bodies of water. Neck fractures caused by
diving into shallow water are associated with drowning in this age group.
Medical emergencies that occur in the water can lead to drowning. These may
include, among others, seizures, heart attack, sudden cardiac death,
and hypoglycemia.
PREVENTION
Supervise children closely around water and make certain they are the focus of
your attention. Even bathtubs and buckets full of water can be dangerous.
Swimming pools should have barriers (fences, gates, alarms) to prevent children
from entering unattended.
Learn CPR.
For an adult or child, place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest at
the nipple line. You can also push with one hand on top of the other. For an
If you've been trained in CPR, open the airway by tilting the head back and
Reference:
http://www.medicinenet.com/drowning/article.htm