Management of the drowning victim.

Our ability to manage the near-drowning victim at the site of the accident and in the advanced life support facility has allowed for an increased survival and a decrease in morbidity. Nevertheless, the greatest strides in the management of drowning must of necessity be in the area of preventive medicine. A greater appreciation of the epidemiology of immersion accidents will allow the development of education and surveillance programs to minimize the frequency of these devastating accidents.