The holiday season is approaching and for many families, the stay at the beach is an obligatory step. This is the moment that Mario Vittone, a former US coast guard, chose to help vacationers identify the signs of a drowning, which is harder to notice than you might think.
“A drowning is almost always deceptively stealthily. In real life, it’s very rare for someone to drown making big signs, struggling and screaming, spectacular reactions to which we are conditioned (by television ) to wait for us “, explains the expert on his blog.
To avoid suffocation, the body instinctively governs. Doctor Francesco Pia called this reaction an “Instinctive Drowing Response”, which he describes in a few points: the drowning person is unable to call for help because breathing takes over speech. This person’s mouth moves up and down on the surface of the water while their arms are extended horizontally, flapping in an attempt to leverage their body. The rest of his body is straight in the water, unable to kick.
Signs to know
“This does not mean that someone calling for help and beating their arms and legs is not in difficulty,” said Mario Vittone. Discretion is, however, one of the most important aspects to take into account.
According to the blogger, “of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year in the United States, approximately 375 will do so within 25 meters of a parent or adult. According to the Center for Prevention and disease control, in 10% of cases the adult watches the child drown without realizing what is happening. “
For this reason, he decided to list the signs of drowning that should alert us:
1- The person’s head is submerged, the mouth at water level
2- The head is thrown back, the mouth open
3- The gaze is glassy and empty, unable to focus
4- The eyes are closed
5- The hair is pulled back over the forehead or the eyes
6- The person does not use his legs and remains in an upright position
7- The person is hyperventilating or panting
8- She tries to swim in one direction but can’t
9- She tries to get on her back
10- She seems to want to climb an invisible ladder
When in doubt, it is always better to ask the bather if everything is going well. If the person can respond, there is no problem. If he does not succeed, there are only a few seconds left to save him, explains Mario Vittone before concluding with a final recommendation: “Parents: children who play in the water make noise. When you can no longer hear them. , you have to go see them and find out why. “
