Drowning - Not what you think
 

This was presented at a safety meeting recently and is something for all of us to bear in mind. We have had eight drownings so far this year just in our river.

Worth your time to read this through

http://gcaptain.com/drowning/?10981

W,
Good read, thanks.
Dean

Yes indeed thats exactly what my 3 year old does in the pool since she cannot swim yet. We are giving her swimming lessons twice a week now.

If you see someone go under once it will stick with you.

watched my daughter go under, was right next to her, and since then I watch my two kids like a hawk.

swimming lessons start for both of them next week. PITA to get them in, been waiting for months

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing. :bunny:

Very useful free bump

that should be required reading for anyone on the water, thanks.

good read, thank you.

Dave,
Soooo true!
Dean

Thankyou for the post. That is good reading. I recently purchased a weekend lake home and the kids (6 and 8) love it. The drowning hazard scares the hell out of me. Information is a powerful thing.

+2

Thanks for the info !!!!!!!

Thanks,
Great information for us all.

In all of my 50+ years on the water, I've never seen someone drown - thank god. Possibly worse yet, I never knew that's what somebody did when they were actually drowning. Thank you so much for sharing that one!

I'm clipping and pasting this on the other boards I am on. Great info!

Thanks sooo much!

Great information, thanks for sharing.

Great info that I didn't know.

Thanks for sharing.

I shared this with the Marine Patrol in my county. Thanks

Makes perfect sense. I jumped from a boat a few years ago and accidently breathed some water in. It was fast and VERY scary I recovered but I came away with the thought "thats one way it happens" I'm alot more carefull now.

Thanks for sharing. A must read for everyone. Also, a baby or infant in the water doesn't float, They sink fast so always use infant life jackets. Always!!.

Years back was with my uncle and his friend just sitting around in a fishing boat on a river having some beers. Later that day, his friend decided he wanted to swim to shore, which was only about 30 yards away, but deep water.I think nothing of it. A minute or two later my uncle, who was not exactly in any shape to save anyone, directs my attention to the swimmer and says that he is drowning. I look over at him and think, no way.. Swimmer was calm in water just sort of floating vertically like article said. I did not believe my uncle until I saw swimmer go under. I actually delayed my response because of what I percieved as just floating in water. This guy was a big and strong and certainly looked like he could handle himself. Hell, he was the one who jumped in the water. After I got him out, almost drowning myself because he was pulling me down trying to climb on me, and we are back in boat, he admits he can't swim. WTF? Too many beers gave him liquid courage. The point here is yes, he absolutely did not look like he was in trouble...

Great article.

My kids, who are 7 & 9 now, are both pretty good swimmers. Being around the water all the time, we've had them in lessons from an early age, and still send them back for more every summer.

Back when my son was about 2 or 3, before he could swim, we had a close call, and it was just like the article described.

We were at a party where there was an in-ground pool, and all the kids were swimming, including my son, who had "swimmies" on his arms. All of the kids got out to have pizza & cake, and I took my son's swimmies off of him while he ate.

He finished up quick, and managed to get back into the pool somehow, not more than 15 feet from a bunch of people. Just like the article....no noise, no splashing - he simply walked into the shallow end, and continued to walk until he was under.

Fortunately, we saw him very quickly and pulled him out. He hadn't even swallowed any water, and wasn't really scared. Our reaction probably scared him more than anything else.

Me on the other hand...it scared the chit out of to see just how fast something like that can happen.

Ironic I read that article a couple weeks ago, before going to Panama Beach for vacation. had an older gent up to his chin in the water appeared to be fine but wasnt.. people all around had no clue why i ran up and pullled him to the beach. Poor guy was to tired he could not even stand, hardly even sit.

Seen 2 bodies pulled from the water in just my short 28 years.... It is a very humbling experience.... neither were kids both were adults. Reminds me how powerful this force is that we all love so much.

Excellent read, but scary that drowning is not what we perceive. (Dam Hollywood)

Here you go. Bump

Good message.

Last year at foster care training, the paramedics covered this. I was amazed at what they said it would look like and how many people drown while being watched.

I recently communicated this to other adults while at a lake with the children swimming and most had no idea what a drowning person would look like. I try to pass on this information as often as I can. It is hard to imagine about 75 kids a year drowning as thier parents watch it happen, completely uninformed about what is going on.

Thanks for the post, now I have an actual link to send.

Brian