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Original poster

Article about what drowning actually looks like

61 replies

alteredimages · 01/06/2017 10:21

I just read this article and found it really terrifying. It points out that most people learn what drowning looks like from television and films, which does not realistically depict how people act when drowning. I had absolutely no idea and it is frightening to think that I could so easily have missed the signs.

Hopefully I am unusually ignorant on this topic, but if not please take a minute to read about the signs of drowning. Usually the person drowning makes no noise or hand movements.

OP posts:
ImLadybird · 01/06/2017 10:32

It is frightening isn't it? I was at the cinema a couple of days ago and among the trailers and adverts there was an info video made by the RNLI advising people on what to do if they fall into cold water. These types of short films should be peppered throughout regular TV adverts. They will save lives.

Sionella · 01/06/2017 10:34

Yes, this should be circulated regularly, I was horrified when I saw a video of a lifeguard spotting a drowning person and diving into a crowded pool - I would never have noticed.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 01/06/2017 10:35

YANBU.

That article scared me when I read it, and I think everyone needs to be aware.

Writerwannabe83 · 01/06/2017 10:36

Unfortunately, a few years ago in my job I had to deal with the drowning of an 8 year old boy who had drowned in a busy outdoor water park which was packed with people!! The question we all kept asking was "How does an 8 year old boy drown when he's surrounded by so many people?" and it's because everyone imagines drowning to be incredibly obvious, full of splashes and screams when it isn't like that. Drowning can happen with nobody even realising Sad It was a very upsetting situation.

More education is definitely needed.

Figaro2017 · 01/06/2017 10:39

I'm ex RNLI crew. The one drowning that still haunts me is the young teenage girl who went into the water in front of a crowded beach.

We, along with other services were called, and searched for 12 hours. She washed up that night not far from where she went in. Nobody saw a thing.

Original poster
alteredimages · 01/06/2017 10:41

Sad WriterWannabe83. That poor boy.

Reading that article makes me wonder what other really essential information I have missed. I'm going to be a lot more vigilant with DCs in the pool from now on.

OP posts:
TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 01/06/2017 10:46

Scary. I'm glad I read that article and will do further reading.
Agree more education on this is needed.

Nowthereistwo · 01/06/2017 10:57

Just went cold reading that. Thanks for posting

caffelatte100 · 01/06/2017 11:10

yes, we almost lost our daughter in this way when she was two years old.

We were at a friend's BBQ and they had a pool. She came out of a pool and someone took off her life jacket (as she was going to go to the loo inside). but she didn't, she changed her mind and went back in the water (right next to her dad and a whole lot of others in the pool) and I was standing by the pool. BUT no one noticed her!!!

She just sank and went down, down, down. My husband saw her by chance out of the corner of his eye and got her out, just in time.

Since then, we've realised how easy it is to drown, swimming lessons have been a priority and we thank our lucky stars that we had that extra few seconds and my husband looked round to see her, we hug her tighter at night. There were so many people there, drinking, chatting, watching etc.... and that's often more dangerous, more people diffused responsibility....

bookworm14 · 01/06/2017 11:19

Thank you very much for posting this. I was not aware of what drowning actually looks like and am glad I now do (particularly as we are going on holiday this month with toddler DD to a hotel with several pools).

Neverknowing · 01/06/2017 11:52

YANBU and thank you for sharing. I had no idea! That's so frightening.

mytitshaveshrunk · 01/06/2017 15:36

Been there, done that and just felt sick recalling it while reading that. I almost drowned in a V cold lake. I was at the point where my mouth was bobbing under the water. I was weirdly calm and I've never been able to understand why until now. My chest was tightening so much I was struggling to breathe. Somehow, thankfully, I managed to turn myself onto my back to get my chest out of the water and mustered enough strength to make it to the shore. I was utterly fearless before this happened, not anymore.

nannybeach · 01/06/2017 15:55

Years ago I nursed a little boy of 4 who drowned in 2 inches of water in a ditch he fell into, horrible, he was dead,mute blind, unable to move his limbs just made noises like a wounded animal. Folk should also know about "secondary" drowning, because people can seem OK and die a few hours later. Nothing is like in the films, people beat each other to a pulp, hardly have a scratch or bruise, keep getting up, when it would be physically impossible.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 01/06/2017 16:09

My nephew almost drowned on holiday. He jumped into the pool when he didn't have his armbands.
My bil and said one second he was there and the next. He'd gone
My bil. Said something told him to in the pool. He saw my nephew in the water struggling. He just jumped I'm and got him out. I thank God every day that my bil looked down when he did. He's was 2.5 at the time. He's 4 now and still remembers it.
He often talks about it and says my daddy saved me.

DoloresTheRunawayTrain · 01/06/2017 16:25

My eldest nearly drowned while we were on holiday. I had to sit by the pool with the youngest but sent the older 2 off under strict instruction to stay within sight at all times and stay in the shallow pool. Oldest who had had swimming lessons but some time ago decided he would be fine at the deep end. He jumped in before anyone could say anything and sank. The life guard fished him out. He stayed in sight in the shallow pool after that.

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 01/06/2017 16:34

A friendly non-judgmental encouragement here to anyone who has not yet taught their DC to swim (or sent them to lessons), to get on and do it. I know you've been meaning to.
My youngest DD(7) didn't take to swimming in the way her older siblings did, and we were unable to teach her. She's in an age 7+ beginners class and had finally just about got it. Threads like this remind me how important it is.

Urglewurgle · 01/06/2017 16:45

I nearly drowned myself in a crowded wave pool on holiday once, me and DP been play fighting over a rubber ring and I hurt my legs. I'm a strong swimmer but could barely lift myself out of the water to breathe never mind splash around! DP thought I was messing around and swam away with the ring. It took all of my energy to pull myself to where I could reach the bottom.

It was terrifying, especially with all the other people around and the waves. I could very easily have just slipped under.

TheSparrowhawk · 01/06/2017 17:37

When I was about 10 we were on holiday and my little sister who was 3 at the time was playing in the very shallow toddler pool. Both of my parents were watching her. She suddenly slipped under the water and it took both them a few seconds before they registered what had happened. If they'd been looking away she would definitely have drowned.

When I'm swimming with my kids I consciously check them every few seconds - it's a skill left over from being teacher when I had to watch 6-10 children while out and about - you basically have to be checking on a constant basis.

Noodlebugs1981 · 01/06/2017 17:58

Thanks for sharing...v informative.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 01/06/2017 18:15

One of mine had narrow miss at under 2 - she had got back in to the v shallow baby end while friend and I were about to leave, picking up wet towels, etc. I fished her out of the pool blue, not breathing. And I had thought I was so careful! It can happen SO quickly! Friend gave her artificial respiration and she was fine.

However only a few days later I took her back, determined that she'd learn to swim - her sister had at just over 2. I ditched the armbands - she was never going to learn with those wretched things on. It took just a few days for her to learn - mostly underwater, same as her sister.
Both of mine were like little fishes by about two and a half, but I was lucky enough to be able to take them nearly every day.

I have often seen parents at beach or pool who probably think they're being careful, but they're just not watching all the time - especially now when so many parents are permanently glued to their phones - and I want to scream at them how easily it can happen - I will never, ever, forget the horror of seeing my little one half drowned like that.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 01/06/2017 18:54

Bumping. I just googled how to spot when someone is drowning and I found this website. Just goes to show how hard it can be to tell when someone is drowning.

spotthedrowningchild.com

shuntedrightout · 01/06/2017 19:49

This has brought back some serious memories for me.

I fell off a small boat close to the shore when I was 4yo, nobody saw, I couldn't swim, started to drown. I remember thinking "I'm going to die" and giving up and I stopped trying to struggle to the surface. Then a diver (I was told by him directly after) randomly felt me under the water and brought me to the surface.

My parents didn't believe me when I was finally reunited with them. I remember being given a biscuit and told that was "story" was "very nice."

TooStressyForMyOwnGood · 01/06/2017 19:56

Thank you so much for sharing this OP.

LadyLapsang · 01/06/2017 20:07

Thank you for sharing. I consider swimming and first aid to be basic skills in which we should all aim to be competent, including parents and children / young people, as soon as they are able.

Buildmeupbuttercup89 · 01/06/2017 20:08

Thank you for sharing this. I had no idea. More people should be made aware.

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