["Near-drowning". First aid at the scene of the accident. The need for aftercare and intensive therapy facilities (author's transl)].

Accidental drowning caused asphyxia which without active intervention leads to hypoxemic lesions of the entire organic system, the brain being the weakest spot. Contrary to earlier ideas derived from animal experiments, differentiation into the various pathomechanisms of drowning is irrelevant for emergency treatment and intensive medical aftercare. In all cases, arterial hypoxemia with its consequences are the main problem. Whereas in serious cases the victim of drowning is of necessity given modern intensive treatment, there is a danger for the less severe cases of "near-drowning" that intensive treatment does not appear essential at first and consequently they are usually neglected.