[Resuscitation of a drowned person]

Abstract

Approximately 170 Finns drown annually. In drowning fluid gets into the victim's respiratory passages so that breathing of air is prevented. The victim may be sunken into the fluid completely or only partially. As a consequence of the sinking, the victim will usually first hold his/her breath, until a laryngeal spasm develops. At this stage, the victim usually swallows large amounts of water. This is followed by loss of consciousness, decreased heart rate and cardiac arrest resulting from hypoxia. The cornerstone of resuscitation of a drowned person is correction of hypoxia.