Drowning: The Real Silent Killer

by Ruthie Zarren

Parenting and vigilance are almost synonymous. And summer is no exception. In fact, while everyone seems to relax by water as the temperatures climb, the eyes of parents everywhere must work even harder. Here’s why:

• Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related death to children aged 1-18
• Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1-5
• More than one in 5 fatal drowning victims are children younger than 4
• Most young children who drown in pools had been out of site less than 5 minutes and were in the care of one or both parents or caretakers at the time of the incident
• Almost half of the children who drown in any given year do so within 25 yards of an adult.

The questions we immediately want to know: Why? How is this possible?

I, for one, blame Hollywood.

TV shows and movies have defined drowning for us. They depict the incident as loud, splashy, and attention-getting. Flailing arms, screams for help, and erratic head movements fuel our misconceptions surrounding this event. In reality, drowning is deceptively quiet and the act can be almost motionless.  Below are some of the telltale signs that someone is struggling in the water:

Quiet: They are usually very quiet (Instinctive Drowning Response is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in water—little splashing, no waving, no yelling).

Bobbing: The mouth of a drowning person alternately sinks below and reappears above the surface of the water. However, they are not above the surface long enough to exhale, inhale and call for help. Their head remains low with their mouth at water level.

Vertical: Drowning people often seem to be climbing an invisible ladder. Their bodies remain upright in the water with no evidence of a supporting kick and can only struggle on the surface of the water for 20-60 seconds before submersion occurs.

Trying to roll: Often, drowning people will appear to be trying to roll to their backs.

Lateral arms: Drowning people cannot control arm movements. Nature forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the surface of the water in an effort to lift their mouths out to breathe.

Other signs: Head tilted back with mouth open, hair in eyes or forehead, glassy or closed eyes.

There is no substitute for a watchful caretaker who is aware of the above—and, of course, swim lessons. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swimming lessons for all kids aged 1-4. Why? According to researchers at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%! And, studies have shown that children who know how to submerge are safer in and around water; they stay calm and are more likely to find a way to get out if they ever fall in.

The noise, the people, the fun…pools can be distracting places. Knowing the signs that indicate trouble in the water can help you to cut through the extraneous stimuli and focus on the safety of your children this summer.

©2015, KidsOutAndAbout.com

Ruthie Zarren founded Little Fishes Swim School (LFSS),  a premier swim education center and the first private, indoor, year-round swim school in St. Louis, in 2008. The School’s second location opened May 31, 2014 in Chesterfield, MO. Since 2008, LFSS has taught more than 6000 children, ages 6 months to 8 years, to swim, giving them a “Skill for Life”. If you are in the St. Louis area and would like more information or would like to enroll your child, visit www.littlefishesswimschool.com or 314-647-SWIM (7946).