Non-fatal drowning is a serious, but preventable cause of injury that can lead to lifelong disability.
The Lifesaving Society warns death-related drowning is only one consequence of this water-based injury.
Non-fatal drowning can lead to recovery, but it can have serious consequences as well.
At its most mild level, the victim is involuntary distressed, and coughing, but remains fully alert.
Moderate impairment involves sustained difficulty breathing and the victim could be disoriented but conscious.
Severe impairment involves cessation of breathing and/or loss of consciousness.
In the most severe form of non-fatal drowning, the person could be unconscious or non-breathing and require resuscitation.
Anyone who inhales water and experiences involuntary, distressed coughing or difficulty breathing, should be seen by a physician.
In the previous decade there were an average of 568 non-fatal drowning visits to Emerg in Ontario every year, while an average of 100 victims per year required hospitalization after the incident.
By Rick Stow
