Ice water drowning survival of young patient (2025)

Unlikely. The issue is cold and the speed of the cold. Children have a higher surface-to-mass ratio along with less subcutaneous fat which allows them to cool quickly. The article quotes the breakpoint:

  If water temperature is >6 °C (43 °F), survival is unlikely for submersion >30 minutes.

And even still, it isn't like the child came out unscathed.

Re: Ice water drowning survival of young patient (2025)

#7

Post by js2 » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 4:49 AM UTC

I was rewatching The Abyss for the first time since 1989 and wondered just what is the process for reviving an asystole heart[^1].

[^1]: It was only relatively recently that I learned you can't shock an asystole heart. e.g. https://medicalsciences.stackexchange.com/questions/5874/can...

Re: Ice water drowning survival of young patient (2025)

#8

Post by usernametaken29 » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 5:04 AM UTC

I remember that cryogenesis was deemed viable in the 80ies but essentially surface area is your enemy. Anything larger than a cat can’t be resurrected. It’s pretty bizarre really, they froze mice and microwaved them back to life.

Re: Ice water drowning survival of young patient (2025)

#9

Post by ethersteeds » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 5:10 AM UTC

js2 wrote: post #7

I was rewatching The Abyss for the first time since 1989 and wondered just what is the process for reviving an asystole heart[^1]. [^1]: It was only relatively recently that I learned you can't shock an asystole heart. e.g. https://medicalsciences.stackexchange.com/questions/5874/can...

CPR and a boatload of epinephrine, it seems.

That passage bears quoting at length, it's where I really teared up:

> At initiation of ECMO, the boy's rhythm was asystole. The boy was rewarmed with an ECMO heat exchanger-patient gradient ≤10 °C. [...] As the patient's temperature approached 22 °C (72 °F), low-frequency and low-amplitude sinusoidal electrical deflections were noted on his electrocardiogram. As the patient continued to rewarm, these phasic electrical deflections slowly increased in frequency and amplitude. At approximately 28 °C (82 °F), sinusoidal deflections organized into more classic cardiac electrical activity reminiscent of sinus bradycardia with a wide complex. Amiodarone, calcium gluconate, magnesium sulfate, bolus epinephrine, and epinephrine and norepinephrine infusions were administered. After further rewarming, sinus bradycardia developed and ultimately progressed to normal sinus rhythm...

Re: Ice water drowning survival of young patient (2025)

#10

Post by isoprophlex » Fri, Jun 19, 2026, 5:11 AM UTC

"Survival" here being, of course, not a black-and-white thing:

    > Outcome and Follow-Up
    > On day 59, the boy was discharged to inpatient neurorehabilitation. At 6-month follow-up, he was giving short commands, standing without support, riding a tricycle, eating soft foods, and relearning simple tasks. Peripheral neuromuscular weakness continued to improve.