In contrast to drowning scenes shown in the movies or on TV shows, the signs of drowning are often quite subtle and may not appear to be serious. This is because of the Instinctive Drowning Response, which Dr. Francesco Pia identified as the ways in which a person tries to avoid suffocating in the water. [...]
A drowning person instinctively extends his arms to the sides and presses down to lift his mouth out of the water; a child may extend her arms forward. He can’t use his arms to move toward a rescuer or reach for rescue equipment. Children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you need [...]
Sometimes the most important indicator that someone is drowning is that he does not look like he’s drowning. He may just seem to be looking up at the sky, shore, pool deck, or dock. Ask him, “Are you all right?” If he can answer at all, he probably is. If he returns a blank stare, [...]
Drowning is the second-most common cause of accidental death in children ages 1 to 14 (just behind motor vehicle accidents). In a 2004 study by a national safety group, 90 percent of children who drowned did so while under the care of an adult or a teenager. In many cases, the study suggests, that person [...]
