ABSTRACT
Drowning is suffocation due to submersion in liquid. The term near-drowning implies survival for at least a short period after the event. It is the third most common cause of accidental death in childhood. Children under the age of four account for half of all deaths with boys predominating. Drowning also occurs in adults when the predisposing factors include, alcohol, drugs, suicide, trauma, epilepsy or acute illness causing loss of consciousness or incapacitation (myocardial infarction or stroke).
