Drowning looks different than you think...

Drowning looks different than you think...

shine.yahoo.com

Think drowning involves screaming, gasping, and flailing?

Think it’s easy to notice someone drowning?

Well, you’re wrong.

Drowning is a silent killer.

EDIT = (Quote from article. Removed 'ex' tag for html corruption)

Read on to learn more about this Silent Killer

[edit on 22-7-2010 by silo13]

[Mod Edit: Fixed tags.]



[edit on 2010/7/23 by GradyPhilpott]

It's hot.
It's vacation time (for some of us)...
People are in the water - at the Pool, on the Beach, swimming at the Lake, and though it might be a little late in the season to post this - it's better late than never. Especially with the explanation of Instinctive Drowning Response.

Read up, it might surprise you what you find out. A real eye opener this article. It isn't what I expected from 'drowning' at all.

There’s no splashing, waving, or calling for help of any kind.

It's not like what you see on TV.

Many people would not even notice another person drowning at just 30 yards away.

Read on for tips on how to keep yourself and those you love safe from this silent killer whether at the beach or in your backyard pool.

The article goes on to explain Instinctive Drowning Response: (Please read the whole article for more details).

"Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help.

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."

Here are some signs of a 'real' drowning:

* Head low in the water, mouth at water level
* Head tilted back with open mouth
* Hair over forehead or eyes
* Eyes glassy, empty and unable to focus
* Eyes closed
* Hyperventilating or gasping
* Not using legs
* Body is vertical and upright
* Trying to swim in a certain direction but not making progress
* Trying to roll over on the back


Remember - Kids make noise in the water. If they're not - get to them ASAP!

And don't forget the 'buddy system' - use it whenever possible - no matter how old you are!

peace - and stay safe everyone

shine.yahoo.com
(visit the link for the full news article)



[edit on 22-7-2010 by silo13]

Mod Edit: Added excerpt tags.


[edit on 2010/7/23 by GradyPhilpott]

Not much out there (that I could find) for supporting video - I'll keep looking.



peace

I would say dont take the article to mean that anyone splashing or trying to call for help is NOT drowning or in danger of drowning either.

There is a period of transition before actual "drowning" occurs where often they do. I have seen it.

thanks for caring--2 years ago on th 3rd of july, a family member drowned in boston harbor, it took 11 days to recover the body...it was totally devasting to my very large family...we will never forget it. so always be aware of the one next to you when in or on the water. lol

Im sorry but i do not really believe in this too much. I have seen many people scream for help that were drowning, i live 5min from the beach so drowning is pretty common. The decription of drowning like this article is saying looks like they are describing someone who is in the latter stages of drowning (near death).

Dont people float to the top if they remain still? We used to do that as kids just lie in the water and float on our backs.

This is sort of the difference between choking and having choked isnt it?

You hack and fight as long as you still have the ability to. But once you lack the ability to do so you just look like any other oxygen deprived individual.

The moment is quicker and less noticeable I suspect in the water. You could just be going along no problem then suck in enough water to shut you down without so much as a peep I guess.

Originally posted by eyeofthetiger
Dont people float to the top if they remain still? We used to do that as kids just lie in the water and float on our backs.

Yes but not everyone knows this. I almost drowned when I was 5. All I did was walk from the shallow end and went in the deep end. I remember bobbing up and down in the water, with 2 females (teenagers) looking on nearby. It took more than a minute or so before my father jumped in after me. To this day I know how to swim, but I'm not a water person so I rarely use a swimming pool.

Our pool is just 1,50 meter deep. I think there's a law here in germany that basically says if your pool is deeper than 1,50 meters you need an pool supervisor. Most public water parks in germany have at least 2 or 3 supervisors around to watch out. I think it's most dangerous in other countries where they don't have such laws and no supervisors around.

reply to post by jazabel51

thanks for caring--2 years ago on th 3rd of july, a family member drowned in boston harbor, it took 11 days to recover the body...it was totally devasting to my very large family...we will never forget it. so always be aware of the one next to you when in or on the water.

What a horrible loss. And all that time between the missing and the finding your family member.

My condolences - belated but still heart felt.

Thank you for adding the last line in your quote - it is very important to never loose sight of who you're swimming with.

peace

I must admit I think drowning is one of my worst fears in terms of dying, that and choking. Good data though its nice to know what to look for.

I've read stories about people who have been saved from drowning, only to later drown on land. This is called dry drowning. It occurs when water is in the lungs and not coughed out. It can occur slowly, with the victim showing no signs of distress.
Sometimes this happens in children, who do not realize they are not getting enough air and can not tell the adults that they feel discomfort.

So remember, if anyone is saved out of a pool from drowning, the situation is far from over. The person must be examined by professionals to make sure all the water is out of their lungs.

I read a sad story about a child that drowned two hours later, although they were out of the pool and on dry ground. Outwardly the child showed no signs of distress at first, and adults assumed the child was fine.

I nearly drowned once - when i was about ten or eleven years old.

I went to the seaside with my grandad and was paddling at the shoreline and for that one split second he took his eyes off me, i slipped and fell backwards into the water, as a large wave rolled over me - just as i took a gasp.

I still to this day don't really remember how i managed to get out of it, as i was fully submerged and on my back and i remember seeing the wave crash over me. But i remember the feeling of absolute fright and i swallowed a little bit of it into my lungs.

I think if i hadn't been so close to the shoreline then i would have been dead.

Very deceptive OP, in my opinion.

The description is matching someone who is about to die, is dying, or is dead.

The visible "symptoms of drowning" are a little ridiculous. These are indicative symptoms of someone who is about to die or is in total shock. There is a transition period, as mentioned above, when the victim goes from panic and fighting for their life (if possible), to the actual act of 'drowning', i.e., dying.

This is all describing someone who has, in effect, already drowned (floating with glassy eyes, head back, mouth open, etc.) and by some manner of circumstances, is still alive to some degree.

When you're shot, you're gonna make a lot of noise, and to others, you will be in visibly severe pain, (similar to losing control in water, when you are about to drown). However, in a short moment, you're going into shock and your body is going to start dying. You'll start mimicking the described "symptoms" above, of being in the stages of death lest someone helps you.

I know its a little bit old this thread but I like to share this with you.

When I did my diving exam, we practiced sharing lung automats. My buddy forgot that he had my breather and that I was waiting for him to return it after 3 breaths. So after 7 or 8 breaths I grabbed for it because he just looked into my eyes, breathing (the idiot). When I reached for it, I was very low on oxygen and before I could act he tried to stuff it into my mouth (the idiot). Doing that he activated the airshower button, giving me null sight, just bubbles everywere. So I felt his hand and grabbed the damn thing myself. Sadly he gave it upside down to me so when I took a deep breath I breathed the dirty lakewater into my lung. You cant imagine that pain I felt. After that, you just function.

The pain fades as you go into a shock like state. I pulled my leadbelt and decided to do an emergency "uprise" (I dont know the word for "notaufstieg"). Still without air in my lungs. The dive master pulled me back to the ground by grabbing my finns and showed my to calm down. I was thinking like "you # killed me with this".
Somehow I was clear enough to roll to the left, reach my arm behind and get my automat back to me. The first breaths were even painfuller and while ascending to the surface I threw up in panic.

I can recall every second.