Do you really know what drowning looks like?

[dmcantrell]

As the boating and pool season is upon us, I want to take a moment to post this essay that I came across last year.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

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 number two cause of accidental death in children, age 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. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC).

The link above has the article in its entirety. I did not know about this until I read this article, and I owned a boat for years. I think that television has done a good job of misinforming most people about this, but it's not too late to try to get the information out there.

[cstewart1977]

Thanks for the PSA. I have three young children, plus I'm going to Galveston this weekend:)

[ChrisTX]

When I was a kid we had an in ground pool. My mom, my little brother and I were outside. My mom was vacuuming the pool and I was standing next to her. We heard a little splash and my brother was under the water. He never came up or made any other noise than the little splash going in. He was trying to run to the steps while underwater. My mom went in off the diving board she was on, and I ran down the steps. We drug him out pretty quick, but had we not heard the little splash, he probably would have drowned.

The first funeral I ever went to was my cousin's best friend. He drowned in the river. It can happen to anyone.

[auddii]

I had no idea about this- I'm in the camp of only seeing drowning on TV. This is wonderful information.

[dmcantrell]

Originally Posted by auddii

I had no idea about this- I'm in the camp of only seeing drowning on TV. This is wonderful information.

That's great news. I'm so glad to know that another person is aware of this!

[lscottpht]

Thanks for posting this! I was sitting on the steps of the pool talking to my sister in law several years ago. One of my sons was right next to me. I was busy talking to my sister in law, and didn't even notice my son go under. He was literally right next to me, and when he went down, it was so quiet. Luckily, I looked and saw him down, but he could have easily have drowned right in front of me. It was so scary. From that day on, my eyes have constantly been on my kids while they are swimming.

[epoh]

True true... little kids barely make a sound. My niece went into my parents pool and just sank to the bottom like a rock, eyes bulged open. I yanked her out like 2 seconds later and she was fine, but lordy my heart raced for like an hour after!

Took both of my kids to swim lessons just this past month. Such a tiny fee for my piece of mind!