What is Dry Drowning?
What is Dry Drowning?
Medical News Today stated on June 6, 2008 that dry drowning is an potentially fatal event that can occur when a small amount of water gets into the lungs. The water may not be enough to lead to immediate physical distress but over a varying amount of time severe respiratory distress can occur. It is been shown that dry drowning can occur up to twenty four hours after water enters the lungs.
According to Medicine Net, dry drowning can occur for a number of reasons:
A small amount of water in the lungs can cause a laryngospam. This spasm is the body's way of preventing a person from aspirating fluid into the lungs. Unfortunately this protective measure can also cause the respiratory system to shut down completely. This can lead to heart failure, brain damage, or death.
Lung damage due to water entering the lungs that leads to a delayed death
Dilution of the blood due to water entering the lungs that can lead to electrolyte imbalances that cause heart failure.
Who is at Risk for Dry Drowning
Swimmers without much experience are at a higher risk for dry drowning, particularly if they try to do more than they are capable of in the water. This put children at a higher risk than adults because they tend to be less cautious and less experienced. Individuals with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma also tend to be at a higher risk for dry drowning.
What are the Symptoms of Dry Drowning?
If an individual has experienced an incident in a body of water in which they may have inhaled some liquid into their lungs the following symptoms should be watched for:
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Extreme fatigue
Unusual and uncharacteristic behavior
Slurring of speech
A change in mental statusIf an individual who might have inhaled water into her lungs displays any of these symptoms, especially if the individual is a child, she should be taken to the emergency room immediately for examination. When it comes to a dry drowning risk it is better to be safe than sorry. Victims of dry drowning do not always have to die or experience brain damage if the condition is caught early enough and treatment is available and affective.
Sources:
News Staff. Central Illinois Proud. Delayed Drowning. June 5, 2008. http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=8034
Medical News Today. Boy Dies of Dry Drowning After Leaving Pool and Walking Home. June, 6, 2008. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110157.php
Denise Mann. Medicine Net. S.C. Dry Drowning Death Draws Attention. June 5, 2008. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=90057
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