CPR Drowning and Water Emergency Resuscitation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: For a drowning victim in cardiac arrest, the AHA recommends starting CPR with which sequence?
- Compressions first, then ventilations (C-A-B)
- Ventilations first, then compressions (A-B-C) (Correct answer)
- Compressions only, no ventilations
- AED use before any CPR
Correct answer: Ventilations first, then compressions (A-B-C)
Drowning cardiac arrest is caused by hypoxia, so the AHA recommends starting with 2-5 rescue breaths before compressions to address the oxygen deficit.
Question 2: What is the FIRST priority for a rescuer approaching a drowning victim?
- Jump into the water immediately to reach the victim
- Call 911 and wait for professional help
- Ensure your own safety before attempting rescue (Correct answer)
- Throw the victim an AED
Correct answer: Ensure your own safety before attempting rescue
Personal safety is always the first priority; a rescuer who becomes a victim cannot help anyone.
Question 3: When should cervical spine precautions be taken for a drowning victim?
- For every drowning victim regardless of circumstances
- Only when the victim was found face-down
- When there are signs of trauma such as diving or waterslide injury (Correct answer)
- Only if the victim is unconscious
Correct answer: When there are signs of trauma such as diving or waterslide injury
Spinal precautions are indicated only when there is evidence of trauma (e.g., diving, surfing, or waterslide accident); routine spinal immobilization delays critical resuscitation.
Question 4: A drowning victim vomits during CPR. What is the correct action?
- Stop CPR immediately and call for additional help
- Continue CPR and ignore the vomitus
- Turn the victim to the side, clear the airway, then resume CPR (Correct answer)
- Perform abdominal thrusts to clear the airway
Correct answer: Turn the victim to the side, clear the airway, then resume CPR
The victim should be log-rolled onto their side to allow drainage, the mouth cleared of vomitus, and CPR resumed promptly to minimize interruptions.
Question 5: Why is rescue breathing especially important in drowning-related cardiac arrest compared to sudden cardiac arrest?
- Drowning victims have stronger hearts and need less compression force
- The primary cause is hypoxia, making oxygenation critical to survival (Correct answer)
- Water in the lungs makes chest compressions ineffective
- Drowning victims are more likely to have shockable rhythms
Correct answer: The primary cause is hypoxia, making oxygenation critical to survival
Drowning arrest is hypoxic in origin, so delivering oxygen through rescue breaths addresses the root cause and greatly improves survival odds.
Question 6: How should a bystander attempt to rescue a drowning person when entering the water is unsafe?
- Wait on shore and shout instructions to the victim
- Reach with a pole, throw a rope or flotation device, and call 911 (Correct answer)
- Enter the water but stay near the shore
- Attempt to wave down passing boats only
Correct answer: Reach with a pole, throw a rope or flotation device, and call 911
Reach-throw-don't-go techniques (extending a pole, throwing a rope or buoy) allow bystanders to assist without putting themselves at risk.
Question 7: What is the recommended initial number of rescue breaths to give a drowning victim before beginning chest compressions?
- 1 breath
- 2 to 5 breaths (Correct answer)
- 10 breaths
- No breaths; start compressions immediately
Correct answer: 2 to 5 breaths
AHA and ILCOR guidelines recommend giving 2–5 initial rescue breaths for drowning victims to rapidly correct the hypoxia driving cardiac arrest.
CPR Drowning and Water Emergency Resuscitation 1
For a drowning victim in cardiac arrest, the AHA recommends starting CPR with which sequence?