There is a clear difference between patient near drowning in freshwater lake, salt water ocean, and student overindulgence in the 6 th street and “near drowns”. Near-drowning from freshwater lake is more deadly as most of the reported cases of near-drowning are associated with fresh water. This is not just a statistical correlation but rather an outcome that can be attributed to its uniqueness from the other near-drowning cases.
The main difference is intertwined with the body’s osmosis process. When someone near drowns in a freshwater lake, the lungs fill with the water. The water is hypotonic to the body’s blood, and as such, it seeps from the lungs in the blood vessels and dilutes the blood plasma (Jan, 2013). As a result, blood cells absorb water molecules, swells, and eventually start bursting. The rapid bursting of the cells reduces the carrying capacity of the blood which leads to the person losing conscious before the heart eventually stops.
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On the other hand, near drowning in salt water ocean presents itself differently. Unlike in fresh water, the lungs are filled with hypertonic salt water the water (Jan, 2013). As a result, the lungs are filled with the seeping blood plasma. Consequentially, the exchange of gases is hindered, and as a result, oxygen deprivation occurs. This causes the heart to stop, and a person becomes unconscious and ultimately dies.
However, for the case of overindulgence in 6 th Street, alcohol poisoning is the leading cause of a potentially lethal outcome. Normally, when the blood alcohol content (BAC) becomes too much high, the student becomes unconscious and chokes on his vomit. The high BAC weakens the performance of the central nervous system which in turn lowers physiological functions such as heartbeat and respiratory rates. Sometimes, there can be too much suppression of the respiratory system such that the individual stops breathing and “near drowns.”
As a respiratory therapist, I have encountered all three cases. Irrespective of the form of near-drowning, all the patients exhibit the same general characteristic, that is, they all suffer from oxygen deprivation and require appropriate support in supplementing their deficit. As such, I ensured they receive respiratory and cardiovascular support as well as maintenance of adequate cerebral oxygenation so that their bodies don’t shut down. However, despite most of them recovering after receiving apt care, some students who suffered from hypoglycemia, that is, interference with Gluconeogenesis (blood sugar falling to dangerous levels) ended up in a coma.
Reference
Jan, M. M. (2013). Pediatric near-drowning and drowning. Saudi medical journal , 34 (2), 119-122.
