Dry Drowning: Something you *should* be worried about








                Ah, summer. Fun in the sun! Water! Obnoxious heat! What's not to love. (I can name several things, but I digress.) But this isn't an article about happy family time, oh no no no, you've clearly never read one of my posts if you do. This is about a phenomenon called dry drowning.



        Dry drowning itself has nothing to do with dry land. It's a misconception that you can drown while on dry land. Another one is that it can only happen in a giant swimming pool or lake, but no, again. It can happen from inhaling water at a splash pad, or even in the bathtub. 


            The symptoms of dry drowning are:

    • Difficulty breathing or talking
    • Irritably or changes in behavior 
    •  Coughing
    • Chest pain
    • Low energy/sleepiness after a water accident. 
            

        While yes, this is a rare phenomenon, only making up 1-2% of all drowning cases, that's still a percent that could be lower (0% is the best percent in practically all things.) 


                You might be wondering, 'What are ways I can avoid drowning?' So, here's some way we can avoid it.

    • Teaching kids how to swim at a young age
    • Don't leave kiddos under four in water by themselves for any period
    • Only swim where there is an active lifeguard around
    • And never let kids swim by themself 
    Always, always, ALWAYS watch your children while in a pool. Never leave small kids, (Or older kids, for that matter.) In a pool or any body of water for that matter. 

                


        

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