You Think You Could Recognize A Person Who Is Drowning? I Doubt It (779 hits)
A lot of lives could be saved, if everyone knew what I’m going to tell you here. People drown all the time but did you know that 50% of children who drown will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult, who is unaware of anything abnormal occurring? People just don’t know the warning signs of a drowning. It doesn’t look like you think. The waving, splashing, and yelling that people suppose is what a drowning looks like (because of stupid films and television), is rarely seen in real life.
To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic 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 drown each year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult, who is unaware of anything abnormal occurring. In ten percent of these drownings, the adult will actually watch the child drown, having no idea it is happening (source: Center for Disease Control).
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 you. One way to be sure? Ask them: “Are you alright?” 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 before they go under. Let me re-emphasize that a drowning person is GONE from the surface in from 20- 60 seconds. Throwing them a life ring will not work, because of the Instinctive Response. You have to get to them and pretty quick. That's why Life Guards are so wonderful.
When the victim finally goes down and can't re-surface, they hold their breath as long as possible; typically only 60- 90 seconds and then are forced to inhale, which brings in water and blocks the gas exchange in the lungs. Inhaling water also triggers a spasm of the larynx, to seal the airway shut against water. The end then comes quickly. Once the oxygen supply is cut off, a calmness soon ensures, from loss of consciousness. That's when people see the "tunnel of light", angels etc. We have learned this from those plucked from death at the very last moment of life.
Learn this – and teach it to others. Drowning is such a sad and unnecessary death because it can almost always be prevented, IF PEOPLE ONLY RECOGNIZED IT HAPPENING.
A DROWNING PERSON IS ON THE SURFACE FOR 60 SECONDS OR LESS. Typically, when a victim realizes that they cannot keep their head above water, they tend to panic. This leads to the classic "surface struggle", where they flounder and thrash in the upright posture, out of control.They do NOT wave their arms wildly in the air, as portrayed in movies!
It is important to realize that a drowning person has no voluntary control over their actions. They experience what is called an Instinctive Drowning Response. When this is established (and it comes on very quickly indeed) the drowning person cannot stop drowning or perform voluntary movements to help them survive, such as swimming, waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
Studies with New York lifeguards in the 1950s and 1960s found that this surface stage lasts only 20- 60 seconds. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. Struggling to breathe, they cannot stop gasping to shout for help.
Friday, July 1st 2011 at 2:25PM
Jen Fad
