Drowning Looks Different Than You Think

We've all seen drowning scenes in movies where a child is screaming for help and waving his or her hands wildly, with a parent, distressed, who is barely able to get to them in time.

In reality, drowning looks little like what you may have seen portrayed. If someone is having trouble breathing, they generally cannot make any sound at all. In addition, as someone drowns, their mouths are not above water for enough time to take a proper breath, let alone to call out. Physically, a person who is drowning uses their arms instinctively to push down on the water, trying to rise above it, and is unable to wave for help or move toward assistance.

So if the "classic" drowning signals are not actually helpful, what can we look for? A recent article in Slate provides these helpful signs that someone might be drowning:

  • Head low in the water, mouth at water level
  • Head tilted back with mouth open
  • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
  • Eyes closed
  • Hair over forehead or eyes
  • Not using legs-vertical
  • Hyperventilating or gasping
  • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
  • Trying to roll over on the back
  • Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

The upshot of these important distinctions is that as caregivers we have to be even more vigilant of children when they are in the water than we may have previously thought. We may not be alerted to danger by a scream or shout, but rather the more subtle signs and noises that indicate drowning.

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