Drowning and Water Safety

This online module is designed for outdoor professionals, enthusiasts, or for anyone interested in learning more about this topic. This course is NOT eligible for CME or FAWM.

Course Description:

Drowning is one of the most common causes of backcountry illness, injury, and death. While the number of incidents are increasing globally, many remain ignorant to the correct management of these pathologies. In this module, you will learn how to recognize and describe drowning victims, describe the signs, symptoms, treatment, and evacuation guidelines for submersion injuries, and identify risk factors and prevention strategies of drowning.

Objectives: 

The purpose of this module is to help you develop a process that will allow you to overcome obstacles and provide the patient(s) with the appropriate care.

Upon completion, students should:

• Be able to define the basic terms of drowning, the drowning process, and survival
• Be able to describe the mechanism of shallow-water blackout
• Be able to describe the basic pathophysiology of the drowning process
• Be able to describe the effects of drowning on the pulmonary system
• Be able to demonstrate the initial management of a victim of drowning in a wilderness setting
• Be able to describe which patients require evacuation to a medical setting
• Be able to describe methods to prevent drowning