{"id":1388,"date":"2014-08-13T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-08-13T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allenandallen.com\/signs-of-drowning-and-the-importance-of-keeping-your-eyes-on-the-water\/"},"modified":"2024-07-07T05:41:32","modified_gmt":"2024-07-07T10:41:32","slug":"signos-de-ahogamiento-y-la-importancia-de-mantener-los-ojos-en-el-agua","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allenandallen.com\/es\/blog\/signs-of-drowning-and-the-importance-of-keeping-your-eyes-on-the-water\/","title":{"rendered":"El ahogamiento puede ser un asesino silencioso: signos de ahogamiento y la importancia de mantener los ojos en el agua"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although it has been almost 15 years and my oldest son is now grown, I still clearly remember my friend Jackie\u2019s words when she cried out, \u201cIs Wil ok?\u201d I turned and saw my 7 year old submerged under water. We were at a friend\u2019s backyard pool and I had been unpacking towels and getting the baby situated in the stroller. Wilson\u2019s terrified eyes were wide open under the water. He was right in the area where the shallow end gradually becomes the deep. He was not ok. I jumped in and pulled him out. He choked and spit up some water but thankfully he was fine. We never heard a sound, not a splash or a call for help. He just went under and couldn\u2019t get back up. I was less than 10 feet away, along with 2 other adults. With 4 kids and a healthy respect (mixed in with a little fear) for water of all types, my friends often teased me about my hyper vigilance around the water. But this scare in my friend\u2019s pool made me realize once again you can never be too cautious around children and water. Things can take a turn for the worse as quickly as you can turn your head.<\/p>\n

With summer now in full swing and the weather getting hotter and hotter, families trying to cool off are flocking to beaches and pools. Although this time should be relaxing, it can also be a time of tragedy. Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death in children ages 15 and under \u2013 and half of those children who drown will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

A common misconception is that drowning is a violent and dramatic act. The reality is that drowning \u00a0is deceptively and decidedly undramatic[2]<\/a>. Dr. Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D. coined the term \u201cInstinctive Drowning Response\u201d to describe the physiology behind a person\u2019s reaction to surface drowning. In an article in the Coast Guard\u2019s On Scene<\/em> magazine Dr. Pia described the \u201cInstinctive Drowning Response\u201d as follows:[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 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.<\/li>\n
  2. A drowning person\u2019s mouth alternately sinks below and reappears above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning person\u2019s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.<\/li>\n
  3. A person drowning cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water\u2019s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits the individual to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.<\/li>\n
  4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, a person who is drowning cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, someone who is struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movement such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.<\/li>\n
  5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response, a person\u2019s body remains upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, the person drowning can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When a person is yelling or thrashing in the water, they are experiencing \u201cAquatic Distress,\u201d which may or may not be present prior to the \u201cInstinctive Drowning Response.\u201d The difference between \u201cAquatic Distress\u201d and \u201cInstinctive Drowning Response\u201d is that a person experiencing \u201cAquatic Distress\u201d can still assist in his or her own rescue.<\/p>\n

    When you or the people you know and love are around the water, remain vigilant for the following signs of drowning:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • The swimmer\u2019s head is low in the water and their mouth is at water level.<\/li>\n
    • The swimmer has their head tilted back with their mouth open.<\/li>\n
    • Their eyes are glassy and empty and they appear unable to focus.<\/li>\n
    • Their eyes are closed.<\/li>\n
    • The swimmer\u2019s hair is over their forehead or eyes.<\/li>\n
    • They are not using their legs and are vertical in the water.<\/li>\n
    • The swimmer is hyperventilating or gasping for air.<\/li>\n
    • They are trying to swim in a particular direction but are not making any headway.<\/li>\n
    • The swimmer is trying to roll over onto their back.<\/li>\n
    • They appear to be climbing an invisible ladder while in the water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      If you and your family are planning on making a trip to the beach or a pool, it is important that you are able to recognize these signs of drowning; especially if there will not be a lifeguard present. Keeping your eyes on the water is important because you may not hear any signs of distress. Being aware of your surroundings at all times and responding quickly \u00a0can mean the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n

      About the Author:<\/strong> Courtney Van Winkle is a personal injury attorney for the law firm of Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen. She\u00a0works primarily out of the Richmond and Short Pump offices. In a career spanning over 20 years, Courtney has handled\u00a0personal injury cases\u00a0including catastrophic injury,\u00a0brain injury, distracted driving accidents\u00a0and\u00a0wrongful death\u00a0across the state.<\/p>\n

      \n

      [1]<\/span> Mario Vittone, <\/span>Drowning Doesn\u2019t Look Like Drowning<\/em>, SLATE, 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<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
      \n

      [2] Id<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      [3] Id<\/em>.; http:\/\/www.uscg.mil\/hq\/cg5\/cg534\/On%20Scene\/OSFall06.pdf<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Aunque han pasado casi 15 a\u00f1os y mi hijo mayor ya creci\u00f3, todav\u00eda recuerdo claramente las palabras de mi amiga Jackie cuando grit\u00f3: "\u00bfWil est\u00e1 bien?" YO\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDrowning Can Be a Silent Killer: Signs of Drowning and the Importance of Keeping Your Eyes on the Water<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understand the silent signs of drowning and how to prevent water tragedies. 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