[Cheerwino]

 

Thought this was important info for all of us!

Signs of drowning are not what you may think. A must read for parents and those who enjoy the water this summer:   Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning   From the article: 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).  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. Th e 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. (Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006)

 

[wantmyf1]

I'm a former lifeguard and I've seen and rescued a few people who were in the beginning stages of drowning including a 3 year old.  Fortunately I got to every person before it got serious.
 
Drowning is one of the calmest looking ways to die there is.  It's true that there is no flailing of the arms or feet.  Usually when a person gets to the point where he/she is about to drown they are too tired for any of that.  They don't usually shout as they're afraid to get water in their mouths/throat.  Their first priority is breathing.
 
If you don't really know what you are looking for it can actually look like the person is just having fun or relaxing, bobbing up and down in the water.  But if that's the case then you should see volountary movement in the limbs as well.  You won't see much movement in the limbs of a drowning person.  Most importantly you can see the look of panic in their eyes.  That look of panic/terror is your most reliable indicator.  That can't be faked.

 

[Head Injury]

Hollywood's still right about the flailing and screaming during a shark attack though, right?

 

[Cheerwino]

Quote:

Hollywood's still right about the flailing and screaming during a shark attack though, right?

Probably so, Hollywood shark attacks seem to happen mostly to buxom girls in bikinis. Sharks are not quite as likely to be a concern to the rest of us though. 

 

[9pintube]

 
Quote:

Hollywood's still right about the flailing and screaming during a shark attack though, right?

I Just knew YOU'd give me the laughter I needed today, Big Daddy, Thanks.....How do you come up with some of those comic comments???  You, my friend blow away all the new people on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE!!    oh, I'm serious, too!

 

[Kirosia]

I almost drowned once. I was a little kid at the beach and followed my cousin to the deep end. I had to jump up and down repeatedly (while taking in water) until my cousin noticed and pulled me away. Don't think he realized I almost died. 

 

[Samgotit]

Quote:

I almost drowned once. I was a little kid at the beach and followed my cousin to the deep end. I had to jump up and down repeatedly (while taking in water) until my cousin noticed and pulled me away. Don't think he realized I almost died.

 
The beach has a deep end?

 

[Kirosia]

Yes, it's the end that's relatively deep. 

 

[mckinetic]

I have been down twice with a final number three coming up, and the only thing that saved me was a two person paddle boat in the periphery of my eye. As my, "friend" watched me struggle and plead I managed to get the two bikini clad girls to come close enough for me to flop onto their "boat". Knowing the dude who was with me, it is unclear whether he even new I was having a problem.
Great information and I will feature it during our pre 4th of July Navy ORM training this Thursday. Thank you. 

 

[floydenheimer]

Quote:

 
The beach has a deep end?

 
Yeah, it's the end with the diving board, duh!
 

 

[Uncle Erik]

Does this apply to drowning oneself in alcohol?

 

[Fido2]

Quote:

Does this apply to drowning oneself in alcohol?

This method of drowning Uncle E is by far the most melancholy and calmest method, and also the most preferred method