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Concurrent Block #7

Special Interest

Best Practices for Improving SCA Success Within Special Populations

Drowning / Near-Drowning: the Impact on the Victim, Family, and Community

Friday, December 1, 2023
4:05 PM – 4:20 PM PST
Location: Sunset Rooms 1 - 3

    Primary Presenter(s)

  • Tom Greenhalgh, Jr., LICSW, NRP

    Executive Director
    National Public Safety Solutions, Inc.
    Billerica, MA, United States

    Disclosure(s): I.C.I.S.F.: Faculty Member (Ongoing); MVTC, Inc.: President / Director of Education (Ongoing); NPSS, Inc: Executive Director (Ongoing)

    • Co-Presenter(s)

  • Ron Gigliotti, NRP

    Paramedic Shift Lt / Peer Support
    U-Mass Memorial EMS / Worcester EMS, Worcester, MA
    Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Moderator(s)

  • Loralee Olejnik, MA, EMT-B

    Public Health Educator
    Not representing current agency
    San Diego, California, United States

    Disclosure information not submitted.

Disclosure(s):
Tom Greenhalgh, LICSW, NRP, Jr.: I.C.I.S.F.: Faculty Member (Ongoing); MVTC, Inc.: President / Director of Education (Ongoing); NPSS, Inc: Executive Director (Ongoing)
Summary: Estimates indicate that almost 236 000 people died from drowning in 2019. What is the impact physically? Emotionally?. We will explore this topic, including a case study of a first responder who drowned in an attempt to save another drowning victim.

Synopsis: The latest WHO Global Health Estimates indicate that almost 236 000 people lost their lives to drowning in 2019. Just over 50% of these deaths occur among those aged under 30 years, and drowning is the sixth leading cause of death worldwide for children aged 5-14 years. Over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Despite preventive efforts, drownings continue to occur and to take both a physiological life and psychological emotional toll on those exposed to a drowning incident. Families, friends, pre-hospital, and in-hospital personnel can all be impacted by these events. How to prevent these from occurring and how to intervene when faced with a possible drowning scenario are important skills for all to know and will be shared in this presentation.

But what happens when the rescuer becomes the drowning victim? What is the impact on an agency? A Community? This presentation will examine a case study from MA where the first responder died in a rescue attempt. The challenges faced in the immediate aftermath as well as the long-term impact will be examined to show this impact and for lessons learned from this tragedy. Both presenters were significantly involved in this case and will share their experiences from a street-level perspective from the initial impact through the days, weeks, and months that followed through today.

Learning Objectives:

  • Attendees will be able to list at least 3 suggestions to enhance drowning prevention in their homes and communities.
  • Attendees will be able to list at 3 least ways a drowning, including a rescuer drowning, may impact others and ways to mitigate that impact.
  • This presentation will describe three (3) strategies for implementing effective support systems for cardiac arrest victims, survivors and their families and rescuers.