Article on recognizing drowning

[wh500special 2,262]

I hate to post such an unpleasant topic, but I saw this linked on a fishing forum and am glad I read it. I think it’s a worthwhile read for anyone who spends time at the pool, lake, or river.  

 

https://www.soundingsonline.com/voices/drowning-doesnt-look-like-drowning?fbclid=IwAR1ncTgdidvZbug-6K70m1mmce-RHjNuv3KMVkMbpNMIwA7RHffumd1JPMA

 

Summer is coming, and with it comes a lot of time in and around the water.  Be careful and keep your eyes open. 

 

I’ve actually witnessed this phenomenon, but didn’t know it until this article.   I don’t know if this is common or not, but it sure looks like the episode I saw. 

 

A couple years ago at our local park pool there was a little boy bobbing in the deep end pretty close to me.  He was maybe 7 or 8. Water maybe about 6’ deep.  

 

Something didn’t look right about how things were going but he didn’t seem panicked.  he really wasn’t gasping for breath and he looked calm, but zoned out.   His chin and mouth were spending a lot of time under the surface but he was keeping his head up.  I grabbed him anyway and shoved him over to the side of the pool and out of the water.  After a few seconds he seemed to snap back to reality and thanked me for helping him then broke down into tears and a panic.  

 

I was more concerned about the fact that I had grabbed some stranger’s kid in the pool and worried how someone might react. 

 

Until I read this article this morning I didn’t realize how close to being in real trouble he was.   He seemed so calm I didn’t really recognize that he was about to go down.  It just didn’t look right.  

 

He got lucky. I got lucky that I did something when I wasn’t even sure there was a problem.  The 18 year old lifeguards watching us clearly had no idea and didn’t react at all.  

 

The kid was embarrassed.  He was there with a group of friends (I guess) and they all seemed to be strong swimmers.  Even him.  A few minutes before I’d seen them all hogging the diving board when my daughter had gone over there to jump off.  

 

As we were leaving about a hour later he came over and thanked me again.   My wife hadn’t seen any of it and was surprised I hadn’t said anything.   It all seemed so benign that I wasn’t convinced it was a big deal.   

 

Have a fun and safe summer.  

 

Steve

 

 

[wallfish 18,033]

Thanks for sharing this. Keep an eye on your kids when they're in the water!

It was never really understood how my little cousin could drown at a small lake beach with lifeguards and 50 people around. She was only 5 years old.

RIP

Robin Willsie

1970 - 1975

[tunahead72 2,539]

Thanks for posting that article Steve, very informative and really something to think about.  I lifeguarded for three summers back when I was much younger and stronger, and pulled out probably a dozen kids who just seemed to be "having trouble" in the water.  None of the events seemed especially dramatic at the time, but as I read this article I realized most of them were probably showing a lot of the same signs as the author describes, no screaming, waving, splashing.  Just something seemed wrong, and it seemed like the right thing to jump in and help them out.  If in doubt, don't ever worry about what some other stranger will think, they'll get over it.

 

And John, I'm really sorry to hear about your cousin, that's way too young to be losing such an innocent life. 

 

[Pullstart 66,499]

Thank you for bringing this to light.  Also with boating season, is pool season.  We had a family surprise 50th for a cousin last year, along with her cousins and important people were a family we don’t see much.  The youngest boy in the pool was fine in the shallow end but quickly started sliding down the slope to the deep.  I was the host, so was manning the grill.  As the parents were munching on their grub, the mom started screaming “somebody help him!”  I managed to get the furthest distance from him to pulling him out of the pool, faster than the many adults on the pool deck.  The dad never got up, neither parent thanked me.  They just yelled at the boy for going too deep.  My requirement as the pool owner quickly became every child I don’t know must wear a life jacket.  I also make sure I am in a bathing suit and am ready to jump in at any given time.  I know adults are prone to drowning just the same, but they are more likely to touch bottom in the pool, as the parents in the link could.  

 

To relate to the story, the boy never showed panic, just the blank look, head bobbing, quiet concern and fear.  I’m glad the mom at least had the nerve to scream for help, nobody really ever saw it coming.

[LengerichKA88 1,883]

There’s another thing to think about: adults and substances.

 

I  went to Costa Rica in 2007 with my high school class. Half way through the week we checked into an all inclusive resort. We dropped our bags, all met in the lobby to tour the place and see everything. 

There were 23 of us standing in the pool area being shown what’s what, and all the sudden there’s screaming. A man was face down in the pool. He was in his 40-50s, apparently he was a Chilean businessman that also owned resorts and hotels, so he was there a lot. Known to be a good swimmer. 

He was also really good at swimming up the the in pool bar. 

He had drowned (and died in front of probably 40 people) because he was so drunk that he either couldn’t swim properly, or wasn’t concerned enough to actually take safety precautions.  

I am not a strong swimmer, never have been. If I know I’m going to be on a boat, near water, or anything I make sure that I’m sober (always am now though). 

Alcohol and recreational or prescription drugs are a big no go if waters involved. Don’t let a few beers be the difference between having a good time and body bag. 

[wh500special 2,262]

I'm bringing this back to the top as a PSA.  My neighbor was telling me this morning of something that happened at a party he was at last week and this article popped back into my mind.  Worth a refresher.

 

Steve