This nationwide, registry-based study aims to link Danish Prehospital Drowning Data data with inhospital data to develop a Utstein-style Danish Drowning Registry. This study will report mortality and neurological outcomes 30 days after a drowning incident since 2016.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to establish recommendations towards specific educational, preventative, rescue, or treatment strategies to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents in Denmark (e.g., campaigns targeting high-risk groups, or fencing, allocating rescue equipment, or establishing lifeguard stations in high-risk areas).

Objectives

The primary objective is to estimate 30-day mortality of drowning incidents in Denmark treated by the Emergency Medical Services from 2016. The secondary objective is to explore risk factors associated with 30-day mortality.

Study design

A nationwide registry-based study linking data from the Danish Prehospital Drowning Data with data from the inhospital electronic medical records. from 2016 and follow-up on mortality 30 days after the drowning incident. Neurological outcomes will be assessed by trained observers through the inhospital electronic medical records.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Drowning
• Being registered in the Danish Prehospital Drowning Data with a valid civil registration number to allow for linkage with the inhospital electronic medical records

Exclusion Criteria:

• Obvious signs of irreversible death (decapitation, decomposition, post-mortem lividity, post-mortem rigidity).
• Declared dead on scene.
• A valid Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation order or other code status orders limiting life-sustaining therapies.
• An invalid civil registration number.

Fatal and non-fatal drowning persons from 2016 identified in the Danish Prehospital Drowning Data.

Data are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.