How to Prevent Secondary Drowning

It's scary to think that a person can actually "drown" outside of water. That is, a person who has been in water (e.g., swimming pool) can come back out and die an hour later in bed. This "secondary drowning" also known as "dry drowning" can happen when too much water has entered into the lungs, thus causing damage to the lining of the lungs so that oxygen cannot enter into the bloodstream. Unfortunately, about 10-15% of all drowning deaths occur this way (out of the water).

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Open mind
• Attentiveness

1. Especially if you have a small child, make sure he/she doesn't begin swallowing the pool or bath water as some of it can make its way into the lungs.

2. After the person is out of the water, see if he/she has any breathing problems. Any difficulties could be a sign of lung damage, especially if the person has not had any difficulties going into the water.

3. Another symptom to watch for is lethargy. That is, does the person seem to have lost some energy, is tired, or sleepy? Although it could just be a sign of exhaustion, it could also be a symptom of lung damage.

4. If there's any coughing-up of liquids or you see any frothing coming out through the mouth or nose, take the person to the emergency room or call 911 immediately.