WARNING: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

[bottomfeeder]

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/family/2013/06/rescuing_drowning_children_how_to_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. According to the CDC, in 10 percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning—Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:

    “Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs.
    Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
    Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
    Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
    From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”

This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble—they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long—but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

    Head low in the water, mouth at water level
    Head tilted back with mouth open
    Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
    Eyes closed
    Hair over forehead or eyes
    Not using legs—vertical
    Hyperventilating or gasping
    Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
    Trying to roll over on the back
    Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK—don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they can answer at all—they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents—children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

[Token]

I wish you would drown.

[bottomfeeder]

I wish you would drown.

I did and came back. Even hell can't handle me. 

[Tiger Wench]

NOT to validate anything Bottomfeeder ever posts, but...

My son has recently graduated out of his lifejacket (“Superman suit”) and while he is doing well with his swimming lessons, he is still little and not very strong – but utterly fearless.  We spent most of the weekend at pool parties, and my husband and I took turns watching him like a hawk.  Truth is, two years ago on Father’s Day weekend, this nearly happened to my kiddo.  Husband got son out of a friend’s pool, took off his life jacket, sat him down to dry off, and went inside to get his keys.  Husband came back out and all he saw was a little blonde head going under again.  I still wake up shaking sometimes at how close we came to losing him.

[bottomfeeder]

NOT to validate anything Bottomfeeder ever posts, but...

My son has recently graduated out of his lifejacket (“Superman suit”) and while he is doing well with his swimming lessons, he is still little and not very strong – but utterly fearless.  We spent most of the weekend at pool parties, and my husband and I took turns watching him like a hawk.  Truth is, two years ago on Father’s Day weekend, this nearly happened to my kiddo.  Husband got son out of a friend’s pool, took off his life jacket, sat him down to dry off, and went inside to get his keys.  Husband came back out and all he saw was a little blonde head going under again.  I still wake up shaking sometimes at how close we came to losing him.

TW, I'm glad things turned out okay. As a former EMT, passed away children were worst calls in the world. I just thought this post would be informative for all the parents here as I had to learn the signs myself. I want all of the Auburn Family to have safe and enjoyable summer. War Eagle!

[CCTAU]

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KLqIQxu69REnkA9Bb7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBvbGgza2Q0BHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjExNg--?p=teach+babies+isr&vid=640935b1d1fcae90ed900e304a2623c8&l=5%3A19&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4684238368672919%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvdRRBE4J24A&tit=Good+Morning+America+-+July+2009+-+Infant+Swimming+Resource&c=16&sigr=11a2t4jmd&age=0&&tt=b

[bottomfeeder]

http://www.today.com/id/24982210

“I’ve never known a child could walk around, talk, speak and their lungs be filled with water,” Cassandra Jackson told NBC News in a story broadcast Thursday on TODAY.