Snow drowning refers to the asphyxiation of a person whose face is buried in snow.
Risk factors:
(1) recent snow, especially if powdery
(2) winter sport in back country
(3) unconsciousness secondary to intoxication, head injury or fall
Features:
(1) The person is found face down in snow.
(2) There is pathologic evidence of asphyxiation.
(3) At the time of recovery snow was found in the person’s upper airway.
(4) No other pathologic feature is present to explain death (diagnosis of exclusion).
Differential diagnosis:
(1) traumatic brain injury
(2) cervical spine injury
(3) severe hypothermia
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Pulmonology
