146: From Alveoli to Aftermath: The Science and Humanity of Pediatric Drowning Care with ER Nurse Amber

This is one of those cases that tests you in every way as a nurse. A toddler is pulled out of a pool and rushed to the ER, unresponsive and deteriorating fast. Today, Nurse Amber walks us through the critical moments that followed and how this case inspired her to turn her grief into a positive resource for nurses.

We discuss what was going on at the alveolar level in this patient, the interventions Amber and her team performed, and the emotional aftermath of working on critical pediatric patients. You’ll learn what to prioritize, the signs of deterioration that can show hours after rescue, and how to recognize what Sarah calls the “inflammatory cascade of awfulness.”

This episode is an honest breakdown of both the science and humanity of drowning care. Don’t miss this story!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Initial assessment of the patient
• First treatment priorities: ventilation, airway, and warming
• The pathophysiology of drowning
• Misconceptions about suctioning in drowning patients
• The nurse’s role: documentation and respiratory management
• Patient monitoring and signs of deterioration
• The emotional burden of pediatric fatalities
• How the Get Vitals app supports nurses’ mental health

Learn more about the Get Vitals app:

Website - www.getvitals.care

Instagram -@getvitalsnow

Mentioned in this episode:

Rapid Response Academy: Fall 2025

Click Here to join the waitlist for the fall 2025 cohort of Rapid Response Academy: https://www.rapidresponseandrescue.com/waitlist-rra

Listen to the In The Heart of Care Podcast

https://link.cohostpodcasting.com/6598429e-e927-45b0-9b57-7dd34a09d803?d=seASyqjs7

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