2024 American Heart Association and American Academy of Pediatrics Focused Update on Special Circumstances: Resuscitation Following Drowning

Published: November 12, 2024

paramedic attending child near swimming pool
  • A minority of drownings result in respiratory or cardiac arrest but these account for all the mortality and hence require prompt recognition and resuscitation.
  • Since most cardiac arrest following drowning is the result of asphyxia, it is imperative to provide breaths as well as compressions for resuscitation to succeed.
  • Adjuncts such as oxygen, ventilatory equipment and AEDs may improve resuscitation from drowning following cardiac arrest but are secondary to high quality CPR.