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Environmental · Chapter 29 Not started
Water-Related Emergencies
Drowning, cold-water immersion, and rescues around resort ponds, creeks, and summer operations.
Key points
- Rescue priority: reach, throw, row, then go — a swimming rescue is the last resort and only for the trained.
- Drowning care is ventilation-first: hypoxia is the problem, so airway and breaths matter above all.
- Cold-water immersion triggers gasp reflex and rapid incapacitation, but cold-water drowning victims have survived long submersions — resuscitate aggressively.
- Suspect spine injury with shallow-water diving mechanisms; otherwise, don't let spinal precautions delay ventilation.
- Every submersion patient gets evaluated even if they feel fine — delayed pulmonary complications can follow.
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