Debunking ‘dry drowning’ (and what to watch for)
‘There is no such thing as drowning and having no symptoms.’
People tend to think of drowning as being submerged underwater for a prolonged period of time. However, drowning can happen from something as simple as getting splashed with water in the mouth. The term drowning refers to any time water gets past the protective cartilage that covers your windpipe (the epiglottis) and ends up in the lungs.
According to Sue Karnitis, MD, Kettering Physician Network pediatrician, there are three types of drowning: fatal, non-fatal without complications, and non-fatal with complications. “The most important thing for people to know,” Dr. Karnitis says, “is that there is no such thing as drowning and having no symptoms. When the term ‘dry drowning’ pops up, we find that the children had symptoms, they were just symptoms that presented less dramatically.”
As Joia Henson, APRN-CNP, Kettering Physician Network pediatric nurse practitioner, explains, “‘Dry drowning’ is not a medically accepted term,” which means that it is not actually listed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a medical condition. “Parents should watch for children who become suddenly ill following any water exposure.”
What you should look for
Any kind of sudden respiratory problem indicates that a child should be evaluated in the emergency room. These problems could include:
■ Coughing that doesn’t go away or is getting worse.
■ Children who don’t stop clearing their throat.
■ Young children who are breathing more shallowly.
■ Lowered energy levels in a normally active child.
Dr. Karnitis also advises parents to be aware that when it comes to drowning, the most important part of CPR is ventilation. Parents can help reduce risks for their children by making sure they know how to administer proper CPR and never leave children unsupervised. Water safety is not limited to pools and includes never leaving babies around any kind of water, even in the home.
If you are bringing your children to the pool this summer, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends these tips for staying safe during pool time.
■ Never swim in a pool that has broken or missing drain covers. These covers are important to preventing suction from the drain that could trap even an adult swimmer underwater.
■ If you have a residential pool, install a barrier of at least four feet to prevent children from wandering into a pool area unsupervised.
■ Keep rescue equipment near the pool at all times in case of emergency. Make sure to have a cell phone nearby.
■ Watch children at all times when they are in the pool. At social gatherings, choose a “designated watcher” who never takes their eyes off children in the pool. Flotation devices can be helpful but should never be a substitute for adult supervision.
■ Remove toys and flotation devices from in and around the pool when not in use. Kettering Health Network is a faithbased, not-for-profit healthcare system. The network has eight hospitals: Grandview, Kettering, Sycamore, Southview, Greene Memorial, Fort Hamilton, Kettering Behavioral Health and Soin.