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Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning
Jul. 8th, 2010 11:38 amI can only barely remember not being able to swim. My grandparents lived a block away (a small-town, even little kids can walk it block) away, and they had a pool. I have one vague memory of sitting in a little kiddie pool, but all the rest of my memories are in the pool, and I have no conscious memories of learning how to swim.
Grandpa, who'd learned how to swim in muddy creeks and ponds, taught me to swim with my head out of the water, which somebody in the ROTC midshipman training program attempted to un-learn me of, but the attempt never took. At any rate, I don't swim much any more, but I do know how to.
That's why this article, drowning doesn't look like drowning, (found via Making Light),concerned scared the crap out of me. See, the article says there is an "instinctive drowning response." When this kicks in:
1) Drowning people physiologically can't call for help.
2) Drowning people can't wave their arms - instinct takes over and they instead try to use their arms to float.
3) Voluntary movements, like grabbing a rope, become impossible.
4) From start of response to full submersion is less than a minute.
Most of what we assume "drowning" looks like is actually "aquatic distress" and may be a precursor to actual drowning. So, what does drowning look like?
- Head low in the water, mouth at water level
- Head tilted back with mouth open
- Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
- Eyes closed
- Hair over forehead or eyes
- Not using legs – Vertical
- Hyperventilating or gasping
- Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
- Trying to roll over on the back
News you hopefully won't need to use.
Grandpa, who'd learned how to swim in muddy creeks and ponds, taught me to swim with my head out of the water, which somebody in the ROTC midshipman training program attempted to un-learn me of, but the attempt never took. At any rate, I don't swim much any more, but I do know how to.
That's why this article, drowning doesn't look like drowning, (found via Making Light),
1) Drowning people physiologically can't call for help.
2) Drowning people can't wave their arms - instinct takes over and they instead try to use their arms to float.
3) Voluntary movements, like grabbing a rope, become impossible.
4) From start of response to full submersion is less than a minute.
Most of what we assume "drowning" looks like is actually "aquatic distress" and may be a precursor to actual drowning. So, what does drowning look like?
- Head low in the water, mouth at water level
- Head tilted back with mouth open
- Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
- Eyes closed
- Hair over forehead or eyes
- Not using legs – Vertical
- Hyperventilating or gasping
- Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
- Trying to roll over on the back
News you hopefully won't need to use.
