Instinctive Drowning Response

[DrLeftover]

It has been years since I had a refresher in this.

I'm glad I read it, you should too:

"Drowning does not look like drowning"

The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. According to the CDC, in 10 percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning—Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:
...

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/family/2013/06/rescuing_drowning_children_how_to_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

 

[Jazzy]

What an excellent topic and thank you for sharing it Doc!

+2

 

[DrLeftover]

Thank you dear lady.

We went through it in one of the CPR/ACD/First Responder classes a few years ago (Delaware is reasonably close to a somewhat good sized body of water after all), but it had been awhile since I'd reread it to refresh my memory.

 

[Evil Eye]

That's quite disturbing.

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks for the article. Me and my kid go swimming all the time. Even though she is a good enough swimmer and responsible in the pool, I always watch her like a hawk.

 

[DrLeftover]

You are very welcome, sir.

I try to be informative at least once in awhile.