Advertisement

Ever heard of delayed drowning? It could kill you

To save a person from drowning, call for help and try looking for a floatation device. (Thinkstock photo)
To save a person from drowning, call for help and try looking for a floatation device. (Thinkstock photo)

Unlike in the movies where drowning victims are seen flailing their arms and shouting for help, real drowning victims stay quiet as they are struggling to breathe. They may try to “grab” the water surface in order to keep themselves above water.

“To the untrained eye, drowning victims may appear like they are doing the dog paddle when, in fact, they are quietly drowning,” says Dr Wee Choon Peng Jeremy, Consultant, Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

The Singapore Life Saving Society reported that 48 cases of death by drowning were heard in the coroner’s courts in Singapore in 2012 (some of these deaths occurred the previous year). About two-thirds of victims were males.

Drowning leads to lack of oxygen

During drowning, water enters through the nose and mouth and causes the person to initially gasp for air and swallow small amounts of water. What follows is the natural reflex to hold one’s breath before the urge to inhale becomes overwhelming.

What happens next can either be “dry drowning” or “wet drowning”.

In dry drowning, water reaches the voice box and triggers laryngospasm which completely closes the airway. The person is unable to breathe air in and gets asphyxiated.

In wet drowning, the laryngospasm is only partial, so water enters the lungs and renders them incapable of performing their function of oxygenating the blood.

In both cases, the person ultimately dies from a lack of oxygen.

Related article: Have asthma? Here’s how to survive an attack if you’re caught without your inhaler

What is delayed drowning?

Delayed drowning, or secondary drowning, may occur to near-drowning victims within 8 hours after they have been rescued, due to a small amount of water remaining in the lungs. The resultant pulmonary oedema can lead to pulmonary failure and death.

Delayed drowning may not show symptoms, so you should always see a doctor to be safe. Possible symptoms of delayed downing, if any, may include the following:

  • Persistent cough

  • Chest pain

  • Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

  • Shallow breathing

  • Extreme fatigue

“Always seek emergency care even if the person appears fine after having been rescued from drowning. There is a risk of delayed drowning and even in the well looking person, there is a need for assessment and observation,” says Dr Wee.

Related article: Don’t ignore sudden chest pains! Here’s what it could mean

Signs that may indicate a person is drowning

According to the Singapore Life Saving Society, research has shown that the following are some of the signs that a person may be drowning:

  • The victim is rarely able to call for help.

  • The person has instinctual arm movements – thrashing the water with both arms partially extended from his sides – which appear to push him upwards in the water.

  • The victim usually manages to turn towards shore. The body stays in an upright position, with no apparent supporting leg kick.

  • The victim is completely limp in the water.

If you have the slightest doubt, ask the person if he or she is ok. If the person is unresponsive, or responds with a blank stare, you need to act fast.

What to do if you witness someone drown

  1. Call for emergency help.

  2. Do NOT attempt to rescue the drowning person by entering the water if you have not been trained as you will be endangering yourself.

  3. Throw a flotation device such as a rescue tube and life jacket, or extend a long pole for the drowning person to hold onto.

  4. Once the drowning person is on dry land, begin resuscitation/CPR if there is no spontaneous breathing or pulse. Keep the head and neck very still in case of neck, head or spinal injuries.

  5. If the person was swimming in cold water, get blankets or otherwise help bring the person’s body temperature back to normal.

Related article: Love water activities? These tips can help safeguard you from drowning

Tell Health Xchange what you want to read: Click here to vote for your 3 favourite topics and let us know your suggestions (no personal details required).

Get more health tips at HealthXchange.com.sg and sign up for our FREE e-newsletter.

By Teresa Cheong for HealthXchange.com.sg.

Articles on HealthXchange.com.sg are meant for informational purposes only and cannot replace professional surgical, medical or health advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment.