Drowning doesn't look like drowning - useful safety advice to be aware of

[JoBrodie]

I posted this link a year or two ago but can't find my original post on here to bump, so a new thread it is.

slate.com/technology/2013/06/rescuing-drowning-children-how-to-know-when-someone-is-in-trouble-in-the-water.html

Drowning can be a deceptively quiet event, nothing at all like the wild thrashing and yelling depicted in TV shows or films. This article tells you what to look for - if someone isn't moving much, very quiet and unable to respond, get them out quickly or call for help.

Jo "Safety enthusiast" Brodie :)

I aways watch flight safety briefings for how exactly you fasten this brand of life jackets and reach under my seat to check it is there.

I was a young teenager when my Dad got into difficulty in the sea in Majorca....... he went silent, was clinging onto my lilo and was drifting towards the rocks. His face was just awful, and he mouthed "help me". I realised he was in trouble and screamed to Mum who thought he looked fine......... thankfully other people realised what was happening and helped him out using a boat. That beach cove was treacherous and had no lifeguards.

I still have nightmares about it 30 years on.

This is so important. My sister nearly drowned in the sea when we were children, she was only 3 but paddling in a shallow bit (dad and I were further out) - she stepped off a sandbar out of her depth. First thing we noticed was a random stranger crashing through the water to save her - she didn't make any noise or splashing. That guy saved her life, I still go cold thinking about what might have happened. Mum saw it all from the beach but was too far away to do anything.

This is helpful.

Why don't they teach this stuff in swimming lessons instead of trying to get the front crawl perfect?

Is there swimming courses for older children to know how to swim safely in the water?

Bronze lifesaving qualification covers this stuff.

Thank you so much for reposting this. I remember going to a "leisure pool" with the DCs when they were quite small, DS2 was probably 3 or 4. DH and I each had charge of one child, I remember DS2 stepping off a ledge without realising that it dropped straight into deeper water and he went under. I was no more than a couple of steps away from him but he went under twice before I could get to him and lift him up. I remember he was completely silent and still as his head went up and down and if you'd been watching you probably wouldn't have thought anything of it, it would have looked very calm

I am re-animating this thread as the holiday season will soon be upon us - hopefully everyone will have a very happy time.

If you're near water be aware that you may not know that the person next to you has got into difficulties, because the real process of drowning is calm and quiet and easily missed. Please read the Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning article, know what to watch for and keep an eye out for it.

This thread actually exists because I couldn't find the first thread I wrote back in 2018 but I've since learned how to use the search function, so here it is - a few more generally useful things there too - Things that might save a life, the holiday edition.

Safe holidays all :)
Jo

I'm reanimating this thread because holiday season is very much upon us and there's some useful information here on staying safe near water: be aware that drowning looks very quiet and calm and not splashy or shouty, and tell everyone in your party to remember to lean back and float on their backs if they get into difficulties.

While we're here I'd also like to share the sound of a smoke alarm whose battery is failing. If you hear this sound it means you need to replace the battery as it's no longer protecting you from smoke.

Safe travels
Jo