Submersion injuries in children and adults.
Drowning is defined as death by suffocation after submersion in a liquid medium. Near drowning is a term used when a patient recovers, at least temporarily, from the drowning episode. Most authors include loss of consciousness while submerged to complete the criteria of near drowning. In its Guidelines 2000 Conference, the American Heart Association urged that the term near drowning no longer be used and that it be replaced by the term submersion injury.
Falk
Jay L
JL
Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, Florida 32806, USA. jayf@orhs.org
Escowitz
Hal E
HE