Association of water temperature and submersion duration and drowning outcome

Association of water temperature and submersion duration and drowning outcome

Authors: Quan L, Mack CD, Schiff MA
Journal: Resuscitation, March 2014

• Study Design
• Database of drowning victims from 3 counties in Washington state, 1975-11996
• Case Control study
• Case: victims with good outcome (survived with no, mild, or moderate neuro sequelae)
• Control: victims with bad outcome (died or with severe neuro sequelae)
• Location correlated with water temperature
• Pond, bath-tubs, pools excluded
• Used best estimated submersion times
• Goal: evaluate effects of submersion duration and water temperature on outcome

• Results
• 1377 victims identified
• Correlations with good outcomes
• younger (< 15)
• female
• submersion time < 6 min in water > 16 C
• Majority of good outcomes submerged < 6 min
• No significant correlation between water temp and survival
• CPR
• Bystander: 50% good outcomes vs 21% bad outcomes
• EMS: 10% good outcomes vs 27% bas outcomes
  
•  Take Home Points
• Duration of submersion was the only factor that correlated well with outcome, a findings we have seen time and time again in various studies.  Drowning is a hypoxic injury, and time is brain.

Reference:
Quan L, Mack CD, Schiff MA. Association of water temperature and submersionduration and drowning outcome. Resuscitation. 2014 Mar 4. pii:S0300-9572(14)00114-2.