TERMINATING RESUSCITATION EFFORTS11,19

- If the victim has been submerged for greater than 60 minutes, in-water rescue should transition to body recovery.
- In the non-hypothermic patient, resuscitation may be stopped after 30 minutes of CPR without return of spontaneous circulation.
- In the hypothermic patient, continue resuscitation until patient is rewarmed to 30-34 °C/86-93 °F, then continue CPR. Efforts may be discontinued if the patient remains asystolic for greater than 20 minutes. Lowest known documented initial temperature in patient with full neurologic recovery was 56.6°F/13.7 °C.
- Duration of submersion correlates with risk of death or severe neurologic impairment as noted:10
  - 0-5 min – 10%
  - 6-10 min – 56%
  - 11-25 min – 88%
  - >25 min – nearly 100%