What is “The Instinctive Drowning Response?” The term coined by Francesco A. Pia,
Ph.D is what people do to avoid drowning or perceive suffocation in the water. It is almost silent: Very little splashing , No waving, No yelling
or calls for help.
Consider this to understand just
how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be:
a. Drowning is the # 2 cause of accidental
death in children, ages 14 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—
b. Approximately 750 children who will
drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or
other adult.
c. In some of the 750 drownings, the adult
will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.
d. 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:
1. “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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.”
Not always when a person is yelling for
help and thrashing are they in real trouble….they could be experiencing aquatic
distress. Aquatic distress is not always
present before the Instinctive Drowning Response and aquatic distress doesn’t
last long – BUT – unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their
own rescue. They can grab lifelines,
throw rings, etc. Knowing about water
Safety and Pool Safety can and will save lives
Watch for our next post: More things to understand
and to look for in drowning and other tools to use around water.
For more information about Water Safety,
Pool Safety and Pool Fences contact:
Arizona
Childproofers at 480-634-7366
Sources:
Love your blog!
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Thank you Daniela!
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