Dry drowning: the heartbreaking truth behind something that can be easily avoided
Many parents believe that once their child has come out of the swimming pool or the sea, their worries are over and they can finally relax, as the little one is now safe from danger. Nevertheless, dry drowning can take place. Although it represents only one to two percent of all drowning cases, dry drowning is still a tragedy, and one that can be very easily prevented. Here is how.
Dry drowning occurs when water enters the lungs as a person breathes in. Small amounts of water thus enter the air sacs, triggering spasms in the airway muscles and thus leading to difficulties in breathing. What makes dry drowning tragic is the fact that the symptoms need at least six hours to develop. “We can never really tell who really had the event and who didn’t, so that’s why we watch all of those kids for that amount of time,” Dr. Higginbotham, from the Emergency Department Director at Dell Children’s Medical Center said.
He says that the most common symptoms of dry drowning include coughing, fatigue, shortness of breath, sudden changes in behavior and chest pain, all of which can lead to death if left untreated.
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Dr. Higginbotham advises parents to keep an eye on their children even after leaving the swimming area, use proper size life jackets, remove attractive toys from around water so that children are not tempted to go after them and remove distractions while swimming.
“It’s just so preventable and that’s what is so heartbreaking about it,” Dr. Higginbotham concluded.
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