Pediatric Submersion Injuries: Emergency Care and Resuscitation - Trauma EXTRA Supplement (Trauma CME)

Pediatric Submersion Injuries: Emergency Care and Resuscitation - Trauma EXTRA Supplement (Trauma CME) is organized by EB Medicine.

Date of Original Release: June 15, 2022
Termination date: June 15, 2025

About This Issue:
Drowning and submersion injuries are highly prevalent, yet preventable, causes of pediatric mortality and morbidity. Prehospital care should focus on restoring normal ventilation and circulation as quickly as possible to limit the extent of hypoxic insult. In this review, passive external, active external, and active internal rewarming techniques for treatment of hypothermic patients are discussed. A systematic approach to treatment and disposition of pediatric drowning victims is provided, and risk factors, caveats in pediatric care, and factors affecting prognosis are also discussed.
• What are the risk factors for pediatric drowning, and what factors affect prognosis?
• How does the clinical scenario affect the choice of rewarming strategy for the hypothermic drowning patient?
• What criteria should be met to determine when resuscitation should be terminated?
• Does the evidence support “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning”?

CME Objectives: 
Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to: 
(1) identify risk factors for pediatric drowning, caveats in the care of the pediatric patient, and factors affecting prognosis; 
(2) initiate appropriate management of the drowning patient, including initial resuscitation and diagnostic testing and monitoring; 
(3) utilize targeted rewarming strategies in the hypothermic drowning patient; and 
(4) determine appropriate disposition and follow-up for pediatric drowning patients.