V90.4: Accident to watercraft causing drowning and submersion : sailboat

Accidents involving watercraft such as sailboats can sometimes lead to severe and even fatal medical emergencies, one of them being drowning or submersion. Drowning typically happens when water enters the lungs, inhibiting the body's capability to oxygenate the blood. This can lead to a sudden drop in oxygen saturation, causing a severe shortage or complete lack of oxygen reaching the brain, often leading to unconsciousness or heart failure. Submersion, on the other hand, involves the immersion of the person's body or a part of it in water, potentially also leading to conditions related to a lack of oxygen. In both cases, these accidents can also result in hypothermia, shock, water aspiration, and potential secondary conditions such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Survivors may exhibit symptoms like coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue, along with psychological distress or trauma. This specific category focuses on such unfortunate incidents occurring in a sailboat context.