When most people think about drowning, they likely think of fatal incidents, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death in the United States. However, most people may not realize that for every fatal drowning incident in the U.S., hundreds of people suffer a near-drowning accident.
According to the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH), near-drowning is the term used to refer to an individual who was suffocating under the water, but ultimately survived the incident. There are two types of near-drowning: wet, when the victim inhales water into the lungs, and dry, when no water is inhaled. Additionally, most near-drowning victims lose consciousness for a period of time.
Because a person who is under water may not call for help, often near-drowning victims are under the water and unable to breathe for quite some time before they are rescued or able to surface. Additionally, many near-drowning victims must be resuscitated through rescue breathing and/or CPR. As you can imagine, such an accident can be quite traumatic for the victim and can leave them with lasting health effects.
Even if a victim survives a near-drowning accident, that victim may face staggering medical bills and require ongoing care and treatment. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Goldstein & Hayes, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia can help you with a potential case after a near-drowning accident.
Immediate Symptoms of Near-Drowning
Victims of near-drowning accidents generally require emergency medical attention, if only to attend to the immediate symptoms of suffocation and resuscitation. Such symptoms may include:
· Cold skin;
· Confusion;
· Distention of the abdomen;
· Blue or pale skin or lips;
· Coughing and difficulty catching breath;
· Lethargy;
· Restlessness or irritability;
· Losing consciousness;
· Nausea or vomiting; and
· Chest pains.
Such symptoms should be carefully monitored and may take some time to overcome.
Long-Term Effects
Suffocation from being under water can cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, which is called hypoxia. When the brain does not have adequate oxygen for a period of time, long-term or even permanent damage may occur. Hypoxia can cause the following symptoms, among others:
· Problems with muscle function;
· Challenges with movement, balance, and coordination;
· Headaches;
· Sensory problems;
· Trouble with speech and other forms of communication;
· Mood or personality changes;
· Poor judgment;
· Difficulty focusing, following directions, or paying attention; and
· Lack of pupil reaction to light.
In more severe cases, a near-drowning victim may start breathing again, but may not regain consciousness for some time. This could mean extended periods of time spent in a coma in the intensive care unit.
Additionally, if the victim inhaled water into the lungs, they may suffer many more complications if the water was especially hot or cold, was salt water, or contained any type of contaminants. In such situations, near-drowning victims may suffer chronic respiratory problems that may affect their ability to breathe or sustain an active life.
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