Drowning

Question 1

What is drowning?

Answer 1

Death following immersion

Question 2

What is the initial response to submersion?

Answer 2

Panic accompanied by hyperventilation caused by stimulation of thermal receptors in the skin

Question 3

What is hypercapnia?

Answer 3

Abnormally elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood

Question 4

What is hypoxaemia?

Answer 4

Low oxygen in the blood

Question 5

What is hypoxia?

Answer 5

Low oxygen in the tissues

Question 6

What causes V/Q (ventilation/perfusion) mismatch?

Answer 6

Anything which increases or decreases ventilation of the lungs or increases or decreases perfusion of the lungs. In other words, anything that interferes with the ability of fresh air to get to the alveoli, or anything that prevents blood flow to the capillaries.

Question 7

What is the vestigial diving reflex?

Answer 7

Facial immersion activates a vagally-induced bradycardia and a sympathetically activated alpha-adrenergic peripheral vasoconstriction and hypertension.

Question 8

What are the two triggers of the vestigial diving reflex?

Answer 8

• Facial immersion in water

- Holding of breath

Question 9

What is cerebral asphyxia?

Answer 9

A condition in which the brain receives inadequate levels of oxygen supply

Question 10

What is anoxic encephalopathy?

Answer 10

A condition where brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and there is global loss of brain function. The longer brain cells lack oxygen, the more damage occurs.

Question 11

All submersion pts must be tx for assessment due to potential development of ____ ____ and/or ____ ____.

Answer 11

Pulmonary oedema and/or aspiration pneumonia