A recent post on Facebook shows a three-year-old child who fell victim to a condition called "dry drowning."
Please take a good look at this photo. This is my 3.5 year old laying unresponsive in a hospital bed less than six hours...
Posted by Darcy McQueeney on Saturday, August 15, 2015
As reported by the Huffington Post UK, Darcy McQueeney, the mom who posted the picture, was encouraged by her son's nurse at the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to share it so that she could help raise awareness regarding the dangers of dry drowning.
Dry Drowning, as explained by Joe Mulligan from the British Red Cross to HuffPost, is also known as "secondary drowning," and it poses a danger that is unknown to many parents.
"A small amount of fluid goes into the lungs and after a period of time the lungs become ineffective," Mulligan explained.
He explained that after a drowning incident, in which water has been inhaled, everything will appear fine, and then suddenly a relapse occurs. As such, Mulligan explains that it is vital for parents to monitor their child for five hours after the incident to observe any changes.
He adds that there isn't a definitive list of symptoms to watch out for, and the changes may come in any way such as in breathing or demeanor.
"Parents know their child better than anyone, so if they notice anything different about them following a near drowning incident they should seek medical advice immediately. Take the child to the hospital or dial 999," Mulligan said.
"We're in the process of reviewing the research into dry drowning, so we can raise awareness of it, as currently there isn't enough understanding of the condition and that is why we end up with these dramatic situations," Mulligan adds.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), as per HuffPost, do not use the term "dry drowning" or "secondary drowning." David Walker, leisure safety manager at RoSPA, advises parents who are suspecting their children to have inhaled water from a near-drowning episode to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
According to the RoSPA, around 400 people in the U.K. die annually from drowning accidents either in or around water. Survivors of drowning events reach thousands in number, but are often left with severe and often permanent, life-changing injuries.
RoSPA adds that drowning incidents are preventable and gives some points to remember:
- Ensure that you and your family have adequate water safety skills.
- Make smart choices. Swim with lifeguards present, use safety gear and avoid consuming alcohol before going into the water.
- Be aware of water and swimming hazards such as rips and know how to deal with them.
- Prepare for hazards posed by ponds, pools and baths to children and other vulnerable people.
