Question

The victims of a large scale near-drowning incident are brought to the emergency department. what is the minimum length of time all such victims should be kept under observation in the hospital?

Answer 1

The minimum length of time that all such victims should be kept under observation in the hospital is 12 - 24 hours for patients who remain comatose after drowning. It is critical since the patient can be diagnosed with hypoxemia and acidosis and their degree is not recognized. They should receive about 100% of oxygen and must be closely monitored through blood gas analysis.