Drowning doesn't look like drowning

[Nickel]

With summer in full swing, I thought this was worth sharing.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

 

[RPMDAD]

With summer in full swing, I thought this was worth sharing.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Good post Nickel, i was a Life Guard for 4 years when i was younger working at pools and none of my rescues ever looked like the typical thing you see on TV with the flapping of the arms and yelling help me help me i am drowning scenario. Now i was lucky working at pools with clear water, you could see their body actions under the water too. I remember twice pulling people out of dark water, once at the beach, and once in a pond in New England. I was in the water and this lady caught my eye and as i swam up to her i said are you ok and she just said no. Took her into shore and she was ok, no need for fire rescue ems. Same thing in the ocean one i just sensed something wasn't right with the person and happened to be in a position to offer assistance.

 

[Larry Gude]

Good stuff!!!

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 number two cause of accidental death in children, age 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. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening

So if a crew member falls overboard and every looks O.K. – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them: “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare – you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents: children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

 

[Baja28]

Awesome post Nick. I did not know this!

 

[CalvertNewbie]

With summer in full swing, I thought this was worth sharing.

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Great info Nickel, thanks so much for sharing!

 

[CRHS89]

Very interesting...had no idea.

 

[twinoaks207]

Many thanks! Good info! Best thing is that it is sharable on facebook so it can reach many more people!

 

[Sparx]

I went through all the Red Cross lifesaving classes back in the late 60s/early 70s and have never heard this bit of GREAT INFORMATION!

 

[libertytyranny]

When I was younger a 5 year old drowned at summer camp when we went to the pool. He attracted very little attention..and I still have vivid memories of them trying to bring him back. Children esp need to be watched very carefully..scary stuff. i will probably make my kid wear floaties till its 15. lol. very bad memory.