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 No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 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 some of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.* 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. The 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.”
So, if you think you're going to see a drowning victim screaming for help in the water? You would most likely be wrong. Want to be a hero? Eyes wide open.
Rescuing drowning children: How to know when someone is in trouble in the water. - Slate Magazine
Do you know how to rescue a drowning victim without drowning yourself?
In Boy Scouts (many moons ago) they taught us to actually go under water, grab a foot or leg and yank the drowning person under water.
The rescuer must then get them-self behind the person and bring them to the surface that way.
The theory I guess was to not put yourself in a position where the panicking person can grab you and drown you.
Do you know how to rescue a drowning victim without drowning yourself?
I was in a water aerobics class a few years back. One of the gals couldn't swim. She was next to me, very close to the step-off point that would put her in water over her head. I cautioned her, but she didn't move away. Next thing I knew, she'd taken that step and was in water over her head. I instinctively reached out for her arm, she grabbed me and pulled me in with her, holding on and dragging me under, too. I was able to scramble away from her (not very gently, I might add) and get my feet on the bottom of the pool. Then, with someone holding ME, we were able to grab her and pull her closer. It happened in seconds.
But it taught me that you can't swim when somebody's trying to stand on your head.
So, if you think you're going to see a drowning victim screaming for help in the water? You would most likely be wrong. Want to be a hero? Eyes wide open.
Do you know how to rescue a drowning victim without drowning yourself?
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