IntroductionIt is estimated that 8,000 drowning deaths occur annually in the United States. Near-drowning occurs 2 to 20 times more frequently (for an estimated number of 16,000-160,000 events per year)7. For a long time the definitions of drowning and near-drowning were very confusing to understand. Health officials have recently attempted to resolve some of this confusion by redefining drowning as “the process of experiencing respiratory failure or difficulty following submersion or immersion in a liquid body.” Near-drowning has also been redefined as “survival of a drowning event resulting in loss of consciousness or inhalation of water for 24 hours or more”2. Both near-drowning and near-drowning occur when someone experiences a submersion event. An immersion event occurs when someone, in this case a pediatric patient, experiences an unexpected immersion in water. When an unexpected submersion occurs, regardless of the type of water (salt or fresh), the individual experiences apnea, panic and difficulty resurfacing1. Humans, of course, can only hold their breath for a short period of time. This prolonged apnea causes hypoxia and eventually leads to involuntary panting. As the individual attempts to gasp for air, he or she sometimes aspires7. This article will attempt to examine the clinical presentation of a near-drowning patient who has experienced a submersion event. ResearchPreviously it was thought that the type of water aspirated posed a serious threat to the patient and dramatically increased their chance of mortality. In particular, salt water was thought to be one of the most powerful types of water to suck in due to its tonicity. This precedent thought that salt water was more harmful to...... middle of paper ......01.4. Oehmichen, M, Hennig, R, & Meissner, C (2007). Near drowning and clinical laboratory changes. Forensic Medicine;10:1-5.5. Gregorakos, L, Markou, N, Psalida, V, Kanakaki, M, Alexopoulou, A, Sotiriou, E, Damianos, A, Myrianthefs, P (2009). Near drowning: clinical course of lung injury in adults. Acute lung injury;187:93-97.6. Beeck, E. F., Branche, C. M., Szpilman, D, Modell, J. H., & Bierens, J. J. (2005). A new definition of drowning: towards documentation and prevention of a global public health problem. World Health Organization;83(11):853-856.7. Ender, P. T., & Dolan, M. J. (1997). Pneumonia associated with near-drowning. Clinical infectious diseases;25:896-907.8. Leroy, P, Smismans, A, & Seute, T (2006). Invasive pulmonary and central nervous system aspergillosis after near-drowning of a child: case description and review of the literature. Pediatrics;118(2):509-513.