Contrary to what Hollywood leads us to believe – splashing, yelling and crying isn’t what a drowning person does, or can do.
In fact, lifeguards say most people wouldn’t even notice someone drowning a mere two or three
feet away.
The Instinctive
Drowning Response (named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D.) is what individuals actually do to avoid drowning:
1) Except in rare
situations – drowning people cannot yell for help, instead most struggle silently.
Dr. Pia explains that drowning people’s mouths don’t re-appear
above surface long enough to exhale, inhale and call for help. Since
our respiratory systems are designed for breathing – speech is always secondary
to oxygen.
2) There is no waving
for help either.
According to Dr. Pia, instinct forces a drowning person to
extend their arms sideways and press down on the water’s surface.
Physiologically, if a person is struggling to stay above
water, they cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements like waving.
3) A drowning person doesn’t
show any signs of a supporting kick and their body remain upright in water.
Unless rescued, drowning people will only struggle for approx.
20 to 60 seconds before total submersion happens.
Unlike what we see on TV, drownings are undramatic and
deceptively calm.
Keep in mind, if a person is thrashing and yelling for
help, it doesn’t mean they’re not in trouble.
Most likely, they’re in aquatic distress. These
individuals can still assist in their own rescue by grabbing onto a flutter
board or ring.
Signs someone may be drowning:
Eyes are closed,
glassy, empty or unable to focus
Hair over
forehead and eyes
Head tilted back
with mouth open
Mouth at water
level
No supporting kick
Trying to swim
but not moving in any direction
Gasping,
hyperventilating
Looks to be
climbing an invisible ladder
Sources:
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