Protocol 2-286 - Drowning / Near Drowning

CMH EMS & MIH Protocols

EMD:

• MPDS Protocol 14 (Drowning) - Obvious death: Submersion time does not indicate obvious death.

EMR:

• Remove from water.
• Open and maintain airway. Be prepared to Suction.
• Pulseless: Refer to Protocol 2-198 - Cardiac Arrest.
• Pulmonary edema suspected: Consider assiting ventilation with BVM.
• Dry and warm the patient.
• Obtain core body Temperature, if able.
• Consider applying Cardiac Monitor limb leads and/or combo pads.
• Attempt to determine down-time and history.

EMT:

• Ensure completion of applicable items above.

• Adult:	Pediatric:
  Consider assisting ALS with CPAP.	NA.

• Consider assisting ALS with Capnography.

AEMT:

• Ensure completion of applicable items above.
• IV warm NS/LR.

RN:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.
• Consider IO warm NS/LR.
• Pulseless:
• Shockable ryhthm: Refer to Protocol 2-968 - V-Fib / Pulseless V-Tach, however, only shock once.
• Core Temperature greater than 86° F: Remember patients require longer intervals between drug administrations due to slower absorption and metabolism.
• Core Temperature less than 86° F: Compressions only.
• Consider Protocol 2-044 - Airway: RSI.
• Treat cardiac dysrhythmias per specific protocol.

Medic:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.

CP:

• Ensure completion of all applicable items above.

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Polk, Hickory, Cedar, & St Clair County EMS Protocols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.