Which term best matches respiratory impairment resulting from submersion?

• A. Near-Drowning
• B. Drowning
• C. Air Embolism
• D. Radiation Exposure

Answer: (B)

Drowning best matches respiratory impairment resulting from submersion. When someone is submerged, water can flood the airways and disrupt normal gas exchange, leading to hypoxemia and potentially respiratory arrest. This describes the process and its immediate effect on breathing.

Near-drowning is a historical term used to describe a submersion event where the person survives or avoids fatal outcome, so it’s more about the outcome than the impairment itself. Air embolism can occur as a complication but is not the general label for the impairment caused by submersion. Radiation exposure has no relation to drowning.