Safety Tips from Arizona Childproofers: THE INSTINCTIVE DROWNING RESPONSE

Sunday, May 28, 2023

THE INSTINCTIVE DROWNING RESPONSE

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.