The immersion incident

Abstract

The ever increasing participation in aquatic recreational activities is a major factor in the increasing number of deaths due to accidental immersion. Some of these deaths occur while undergoing resuscitative efforts immediately following rescue, on admission to hospital, or even up to 19 days after the immersion incident. Drowning, either acute or its delayed effects, is chiefly responsible for these deaths, but in a number, hypothermia occurring alone or complicating drowning, is the likely explanation. This paper examines the problem and proposes a regime of management.