• The survival rate from potentially fatal salt water submersion is about 80% whereas in fresh water it is less than 50%.
• In drowning, breath holding lasts until carbon dioxide accumulation stimulates respiration resulting in inhalation of water.
• Gulping of water, coughing and vomiting is rapidly followed by loss of consciousness. Profound unconsciousness and convulsions are associated with involuntary respiratory movements and the aspiration of water.
• Death within 2 to 3 minutes may be called “Instantaneous deaths" and the death is almost invariable when the period of submersion exceeds 10 minutes.
• There are no pathological findings that are pathognomonic of drowning. Consequently obtaining proof that the victim was alive on entering the water and excluding natural, traumatic and toxicological causes of death are critically important.
• Some pathological changes are characteristic of drowning but the diagnosis is largely one of exclusion. A fine white froth or foam is seen exuding from the mouth and nostrils. The froth is sometimes tinged with blood producing a pinkish color. If the foam is wiped away then pressure on the chest wall will cause more foam to exude from the nostrils and mouth..
• The foam is a mixture of water, air, mucus and possibly surfactant whipped up by respiratory efforts. Thus it is a vital phenomenon and indicates that the victim was alive at the time of submersion
• In drowning, breath holding lasts until carbon dioxide accumulation stimulates respiration resulting in inhalation of water.
• Gulping of water, coughing and vomiting is rapidly followed by loss of consciousness. Profound unconsciousness and convulsions are associated with involuntary respiratory movements and the aspiration of water.
• Death within 2 to 3 minutes may be called “Instantaneous deaths" and the death is almost invariable when the period of submersion exceeds 10 minutes.
• There are no pathological findings that are pathognomonic of drowning. Consequently obtaining proof that the victim was alive on entering the water and excluding natural, traumatic and toxicological causes of death are critically important.
• Some pathological changes are characteristic of drowning but the diagnosis is largely one of exclusion. A fine white froth or foam is seen exuding from the mouth and nostrils. The froth is sometimes tinged with blood producing a pinkish color. If the foam is wiped away then pressure on the chest wall will cause more foam to exude from the nostrils and mouth..
• The foam is a mixture of water, air, mucus and possibly surfactant whipped up by respiratory efforts. Thus it is a vital phenomenon and indicates that the victim was alive at the time of submersion
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