what to know about drowning + “dry drowning”
There is so much for parents to think about when it comes to water safety, especially around this time of year. There are also tragic stories that we hear about and a lot of confusing — and inaccurate — terms like “dry drowning”, “near drowning”, and others out there. Let’s try and tune out the noise + learn what you need to know if your child is in the moment — what to do, step-by-step, and when to seek help.
what to know
Let’s start with the proper terms, so that you have the right information. The true definition of drowning is when a person gets submerged in water and has some respiratory impairment.
fatal drowning: when someone is submerged and dies
non-fatal drowning with injury: submersion leads to some injury like lung injuries, change in abilities, etc.
non-fatal drowning without injury: submersion doesn’t lead to any after effects (what some people call “near drowning”)
Rarely, you can have a situation where choking or sputtering after submersion in water leads to spasming of the airways (laryngospasm) — these spasms can be so severe that they close off the airway. This is sometimes called “dry drowning”, because your lung impairment is not technically from water (but instead from the spasms that happen as a result).
Sometimes, water can be aspirated — this water may sit in the lungs and cause inflammation and eventually infection.
what to look for
Let’s talk about some of the more confusing situations you might find yourself in as a parent. Many kids play in the water and might accidentally get some water in their mouth, cough or sputter, and then have no symptoms afterward at all. This is where most of us find ourselves as parents (i.e. your child is in the bath and this happens, very common and not typically going to lead to any symptoms). But just in case, it’s important to know what to look for. If your child has had an episode in the water or swallows/aspirates it and:
seems off immediately after: does not seem themselves, is confused, coughing or short of breath, has increased work of breathing, pale or blue, vomiting, fatigued, or if you’re concerned at all — seek immediate medical attention.
seems okay immediately after: over the next 2-12 hours, watch for intermittent coughing, increased work of breathing (see my instagram reel on how to check your child’s breathing), wheezing, suddenly more tired or fatigued, fever, vomiting, pale or change in color, or with any concerns, call for immediate medical attention.
seems okay immediately after AND for the next few days (no change in breathing, coughing, fever, energy is at baseline): watch for any changes, but in general, these kids do just fine.
Always feel free to call your care team or seek help if you have ANY concerns. And please know that water safety is so important but you can also enjoy it safely if you know what to look for and how to be prepared.
