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Practice Guideline
. 2019 Dec;30(4S):S70-S86.
doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.06.007. Epub 2019 Oct 25.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment and Prevention of Drowning: 2019 Update

Andrew C Schmidt  1 , Justin R Sempsrott  2 , Seth C Hawkins  3 , Ali S Arastu  4 , Tracy A Cushing  5 , Paul S Auerbach  6
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment and Prevention of Drowning: 2019 Update

Andrew C Schmidt et al. Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

The Wilderness Medical Society convened a panel to review available evidence supporting practices for acute management and treatment of drowning in out-of-hospital and emergency medical care settings. Literature about definitions and terminology, epidemiology, rescue, resuscitation, acute clinical management, disposition, and drowning prevention was reviewed. The panel graded available evidence supporting practices according to the American College of Chest Physicians criteria and then made recommendations based on that evidence. Recommendations were based on the panel's collective clinical experience and judgment when published evidence was lacking. This is the first update to the original practice guidelines published in 2016.

Keywords: cold water submersion; hypothermia; immersion; submersion.

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Comment in

  • First Aid for a Drowning Child.
    Cianchetti C. Cianchetti C. Wilderness Environ Med. 2020 Sep;31(3):373-374. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2020.02.002. Epub 2020 Jun 5. Wilderness Environ Med. 2020. PMID: 32507632 No abstract available.
  • In Reply to Dr Cianchetti.
    Schmidt A, Sempsrott J. Schmidt A, et al. Wilderness Environ Med. 2020 Sep;31(3):374-375. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2020.06.001. Epub 2020 Aug 2. Wilderness Environ Med. 2020. PMID: 32758399 No abstract available.
  • Suggested Addition to Wilderness Medical Society Snow Burial Guidelines.
    Palmer KA, Semmens TJ. Palmer KA, et al. Wilderness Environ Med. 2021 Sep;32(3):409-410. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2021.05.001. Epub 2021 Jul 14. Wilderness Environ Med. 2021. PMID: 34272165 No abstract available.

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