Note: I said last time that I'd share here about how literature helps us talk with our children about race. But when this important information about drowning came to my attention, I decided to share it now before swimming season is over. Look for some thoughts about literature and race next time!
When my youngest, Justin, was a young toddler, I sat with him on the first shallow step of a pool. I looked away for a moment. When I looked back, he was upright under the water, just looking up at me. No flailing, no screaming, nothing.
My heart stopped and I grabbed him out. If I had not looked back when I did, he would have drowned. Praise the Lord he was OK.
As if one terrifying incident like this isn't enough, a similar thing happened a few years ago. I was relaxing with all my kids and grandkids at a pool. The adults outnumbered the children and we were all "paying attention" to the kids swimming. I was even in the water myself. Yet as I happened to look over, there was one of Amy's young boys silently submerged, upright underwater. Again, he was not flailing his arms, calling for help, or even looking panicked. I raced, running through the water, sure I wouldn't get there in time. I grabbed him up and all was well. But again, if I hadn't noticed when I did, he might have drowned.
In both of these situations, I had a definite feeling that something was wrong, but it was not at all obvious that these children were in the process of drowning.
The silent signs of drowning
You may have already seen the article circling the internet right now about the real signs of drowning. But in case you haven't, I wanted to point it out here. Click to read "Drowning doesn't look like drowning."
As the article says, drowning in real life does not look like it does on TV. Victims rarely flail or yell for help. Once they start drowning, they go into an instinctive response they cannot control. It is silent, calm and looks harmless.
As the article shares, victims are usually upright with their mouth hovering around water-level. They cannot call for help, wave or reach for a rescue device. Their eyes look glassy and unable to focus.
Click to watch a short video of a young boy in the midst of this "instinctive drowning response" before he is rescued by a lifeguard. (I apologize that you'll have to watch a short ad before the actual video starts.)
What to do if you see these signs
If you ever wonder if someone is drowning, simply call out to them "Are you OK?" If they can answer you, they're fine. If you get a glassy stare in response, you may have less than 30 seconds to reach them before they drown.
If we're not aware of the fact that this isn't what it looks like on TV, we're not prepared. Praise Jesus that neither of my situations ended up as a tragedy, but I am just shocked at how it all happened so fast, while adult supervision was right there!
So please, learn the signs of drowning, and pay attention carefully to children around water. If they get quiet, recognize that there is a problem.
I share this not to panic you, but pray that a little education can go a long way here. As a person "in the know," you just might be the one to save a life some day.
Blessings,
Sarita
Robin E. – I had not heard of dry drowning. How scary! Thank you for passing along this valuable piece of information. And I echo your heartfelt thanks that our boys were all OK.
Blessings,
Sarita
Thank you for this, Sarita. My own experience with my 3rd son confirms your experiences; kids underwater on their way to drowning don't flail or even seem to panic. Thank the Lord that my son, like your son and grandchild, was noticed in time.
I just wanted to add something, however, for parents to look for if their child experiences one of these scary life threatening moments. We assume after they are out of the water and breathing and talking and eating and all, they they are fine and tragedy has been averted. However, medically speaking, a drowning is a death that occurs withing 24 HOURS of an event. A person can seem fine afterwards, but then worsen. Medically called a "delayed drowning" but often referred to as a "dry drowning" by lay people, it is of real concern. Here is just one (of many) articles on it online. http://www.wearechildrens.org/2011/07/water-safety-hot-tubs-ocean-swimming-and-dry-drowning/
What a useful post... I really appreciate it. One of the leading causes of death for kids, especially those mad 10 to 14 year old boys, is drowning. You are so right I have had one or two little kids just sort of bob... but there heads are too heavy to lift for air. One accident at a pool is an accident too many!!! Thank you.