Drowning]

Drowning is always a serious event, with high morbidity and mortality. Definitions were recently revised and simplified according to Utstein-style. The circumstances and prognosis differ in different age groups. Consequences of drowning are hypoxemia, acidosis and hypothermia. The management of drowning victims should be directed to the correction of these 3 elements. An early basic life support and an efficient oxygenation are keys of good prognosis, this one being mainly related to hypoxic cerebral damages. The most frequent complications except anoxic encephalopathy are bacterial pneumonia and ARDS.