When should resuscitation efforts be transitioned to body recovery for a drowning victim?

The correct approach to transitioning from resuscitation efforts to body recovery for a drowning victim is primarily guided by the duration of submersion. In this case, if the victim has been submerged in water for an extended period, specifically an hour or more, the likelihood of successful resuscitation significantly decreases due to the prolonged lack of oxygen resulting in severe hypoxic brain injury.

When a victim has been submerged for one hour, the physiological state of the body and brain deteriorates to a point where standard resuscitation efforts, such as CPR, may no longer be effective in restoring a viable condition. Furthermore, after this duration, the chances of meaningful functional recovery significantly diminish, and it is generally accepted to transition to recovery efforts rather than continue with resuscitation.

While other factors such as the presence of hypothermia might offer some hope for longer survival post-submersion, these specifics do not negate the importance of the duration submersed in dictating the transition point for resuscitation efforts. The consideration for such factors is secondary when a victim has already exceeded the critical time frame for effective resuscitation.