We still have several weeks left of summer fun, including trips to the lake and swimming in the pool. That means that drowning is still a huge concern. Most people think that it’s easy to spot someone in trouble. But they’re wrong. Drowning is a silent killer. It can occur in only a few minutes and in only minimal amounts of water. There’s no splashing, waving or calling for help of any kind. It’s not like what you see on TV. In fact, many people would not even notice another person drowning at just 30 yards away. Here are some tips on how to keep yourself and those you love safe from this silent killer, whether at the beach or in your backyard pool.

The Facts About Drowning

Drownings are the leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4. Even scarier is that in a small but significant percentage of kids’ drownings, an adult will have watched the whole process, not having a clue what was happening.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like What You’d Expect

The Instinctive Drowning Response, a term coined by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people instinctively do to avoid suffocation when drowning. The responses to drowning are undramatic and surprisingly quiet.

In her article, “It Doesn’t Look Like They’re Drowning” featured in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, Dr. Pia describes the typical drowning response as follows:

“Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The 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 mouth of a drowning person is not above the surface of the water long enough to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning person’s mouth is above the surface, she exhales and inhales quickly as her mouth starts 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.”

10 Signs of Drowning

The next time you’re swimming with your kids or others, watch for these signs:

1. Head low in the water, mouth at water level
2. Head tilted back with open mouth
3. Hair over forehead or eyes
4. Eyes glassy, empty and unable to focus
5. Eyes closed
6. Hyperventilating or gasping
7. Not using legs
8. Body is vertical and upright
9. Trying to swim in a certain direction but not making progress
10. Trying to roll over on the back

Conclusion

When you’re swimming with others, stay aware. Keep your eyes open for any oddities because even when things seem ok, they may not be. A good way to be sure is to ask your children or the person you’re swimming with if he or she is all right. If they are rather still, do not answer or have a blank stare, then you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them! As any parent knows, kids make noise in the water. If they are not making noise, find out why and get them out of the water ASAP.

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