Drowning doesn't look like drowning

[Tiny Turnip]

http://gcaptain.com/drowning/?10981



From the article:

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 (source: CDC). 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:

Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. Th e respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear 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 people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.

[hoytedow]

This is important and underscores the need to closely supervise activities.

Bravo, Tiny!

[CatBuilder]

I've drowned and this is accurate.

[Poida]

Trying to keep my head above water in most things I do is difficult.

Poida

[rxcomposite]

I still remember it clearly to this day. I was a young boy and a professional swimmer of the same age was going to teach me how to swim. He told me to jump into the pool and I did. After sometime in the water, I realized he was not going to pull me up, I instintively started clawing for the gutter. I bobbed up and down several times but no help came although I can sense he was near me.

After swallowing a lot of chlorined water, he pulled me up and said "I thought you know how to swim?" Damn him. I thought he was going to teach me.

Moral of the story- "Chlorine is good for the teeth"

Seriously now. Even a professional swimmer would not be able to tell if you are drowning. He thought I was showing off.

[Manie B]

good one

[Submarine Tom]

Originally Posted by rxcomposite

I still remember it clearly to this day. I was a young boy and a professional swimmer of the same age was going to teach me how to swim. He told me to jump into the pool and I did. After sometime in the water, I realized he was not going to pull me up, I instintively started clawing for the gutter. I bobbed up and down several times but no help came although I can sense he was near me.

After swallowing a lot of chlorined water, he pulled me up and said "I thought you know how to swim?" Damn him. I thought he was going to teach me.

Moral of the story- "Chlorine is good for the teeth"

Seriously now. Even a professional swimmer would not be able to tell if you are drowning. He thought I was showing off.

"What we have here is a failure to communicate..."

-Tom

[Yobarnacle]

Originally Posted by CatBuilder

I've drowned and this is accurate.

I also have drowned...twice. to the extent I had passed out underwater and would have died if not rescued.

For those that lost someone dear to drowning, my sympathies. If it makes you feel any better, actually, drowning ain't a bad way to go. True, there's that minute or so of agonizing panic to breathe, but it quickly passes and suddenly there's no need or desire to breathe. Everything becomes calm and peacefull and then vision tunnels and fades.

Is this the same as you experienced Catbuilder?

[CatBuilder]

Exactly the same, Yo. I had been trying to swim to the "big kids' raft" out in the lake. I wasn't a good swimmer, so this was my first real swim out to where the teenagers were. I was pretty nervous.

I made it! Had a great time playing on the raft and jumping off and stuff.

Then... I swam back to shore (or tried to). About half way back, but in water still over my head, I got tired and/or went into a panic.

I instinctively did exactly what they are talking about in the article. I remember trying to lift myself up out of the water by pressing down on the surface and coming up many times for some air. (but staying vertical in the water column as opposed to normal swimming position)

I remember the nice, bright sun shining down and sparkling through the water as I looked up to the surface, where I wanted to be.

I also remember choking on water while under water, then a sudden calm feeling that came when the choking was over (my lungs now had no air in them - only water).

I remember seeing that sparkling sun dim out, but there was no panic at all. It was one of the most peaceful moments you could ever imagine. Just a slow fade out with no pain, no discomfort, nothing... just nothing...

Next thing I knew I was on the beach and spewing out water.

[Yobarnacle]

Exactly! Hopefully that will be some comfort for someone to know their loved one didn't die in agony but in peace!

[Yobarnacle]

that's why I'm getting buried at sea, or my ashes at least. In about 100 years or two. Ain't decided yet when I'll die.

[hoytedow]

Originally Posted by Yobarnacle

that's why I'm getting buried at sea, or my ashes at least. In about 100 years or two. Ain't decided yet when I'll die.

Ditto. I plan to build a little funerary vessel of soluble material that can go over the side and deposit the contents, maybe with some kind of brass or other plaque with a comment or epitaph.

It might even be a "concrete submarine" so a crush depth test can be concurrent to event.

[Submarine Tom]

Brilliant!!

-Tom

[rxcomposite]

Originally Posted by Yobarnacle

If it makes you feel any better, actually, drowning ain't a bad way to go. True, there's that minute or so of agonizing panic to breathe, but it quickly passes and suddenly there's no need or desire to breathe. Everything becomes calm and peacefull and then vision tunnels and fades.

Sounds like the movie "The Abyss" when they strapped the oxygen rich pink liquid tank to the male lead . So there is some factual truth to it.

It was explained in the movie that it is a natural behavior. Like going back to your mother's womb and breathing only in fluid. That the feeling of drowning last only for several seconds and then it's peace afterwards.

[Submarine Tom]

What about the scene where chickie-poo drowns on purpose so star-man can tow her to safety. What a concept 'eh!

-Tom