What is Drowning?
Drowning Definition
Drowning is the ‘process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid’.1 Drowning can either be fatal or non-fatal. Non-fatal drowning events can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning.
Outdated definitions of drowning continue to be used around the world and the media often refers to drowning only in terms of a drowning death. A simple, comprehensive, and internationally accepted definition has been advised By World Health Organization in 2005. Drowning is the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid’. There are 3 outcomes to drowning- 1. Death, 2. Survival with no injury or 3. Survival with injury (including brain damage). Old terms that should notbe used are ‘Dry’, ‘Wet’, ‘Active’, ‘Passive’, ‘Secondary’ or ‘Near’ drowning.