ME
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Jul 17, 2010We wish everyone to have a happy, fun-filled and SAFE summer. Following is an excerpt from an excellent artitcle regarding drowning. We encourage EVERY ONE to read it. This may just help you save someone's life...
The full article can be found at:mariovittone.comThe Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC). Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this:
1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.
(Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14))
This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.
Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:
• Head low in the water, mouth at water level
• Head tilted back with mouth open
• Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
• Eyes closed
• Hair over forehead or eyes
• Not using legs – Vertical
• Hyperventilating or gasping
• Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
• Trying to roll over on the back
• Ladder climb, rarely out of the water.
So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.
Jen and SteveLAST PAGE
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- PH
PhilfreeeukJul 28, 2010[quote][quote]We wish everyone to have a happy, fun-filled and SAFE summer. Following is an excerpt from an excellent artitcle regarding drowning. We encourage EVERY ONE to read it. This may just help you save someone's life... The full article can be found at:mariovittone.comThe Instinctive Drowning Response – so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC). Drowning does not look like drowning – Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene Magazine, described the instinctive drowning response like this: 1. Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs. 2. Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water. 3. Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe. 4. Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment. 5. From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs. (Source: On Scene Magazine: Fall 2006 (page 14)) This doesn’t mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn’t in real trouble – they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before the instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn’t last long – but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc. Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water: • Head low in the water, mouth at water level • Head tilted back with mouth open • Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus • Eyes closed • Hair over forehead or eyes • Not using legs – Vertical • Hyperventilating or gasping • Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway • Trying to roll over on the back • Ladder climb, rarely out of the water. So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks OK – don’t be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why. Jen and Steve[/quote] Please keep bumping this to the home page. We need people to read it every day.[/quote]ReactReply - JA
JackNeilsonJul 29, 2010Bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonJul 29, 2010
Bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonJul 30, 2010ReactReply
- JAJackNeilsonJul 30, 2010
Bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonJul 31, 2010
Again
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonJul 31, 2010ReactReply
- PHPhilfreeeukAug 1, 2010[quote]Thanks you two! ... yet another EXCELLENT post, I've added it to theSticky List thread.
[/quote]ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 2, 2010
Bump
ReactReply - PHPhilfreeeukAug 2, 2010[quote]Thanks you two! ... yet another EXCELLENT post, I've added it to theSticky List thread.[/quote]ReactReply
- JAJackNeilsonAug 2, 2010
That is tragic and all the more reason for us to keep this thread visible on the home page.
ReactReply - TH
ThomasAug 3, 2010[quote]That is tragic and all the more reason for us to keep this thread visible on the home page.[/quote] I totally agreeReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 3, 2010And yet another one. This has been a terrible year for drownings Updated: Mon Aug. 02 2010 10:56:12 PM ctvtoronto.ca A woman has been pronounced dead after drowning in a backyard pool, while two other children are recovering -- all from separate swimming accidents. The woman, believed to be in her sixties, could not be revived. The pool was at a home a few blocks southeast of Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. Earlier in the day, a four-year-old boy was pulled unconscious from a backyard pool in Mississauga. He was transported to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children by air ambulance and remains in critical condition. The pool was located at 977 Porcupine Ave., just south of Lake Shore Road West and slightly southwest of Jack Darling Memorial Park. Police said the boy did not live at that address -- he was there as part of a church group gathering of about 30 people. When police arrived, they found the boy without vital signs so they commenced CPR. Ambulance and firefighters also responded. An ambulance first transported the boy to Trillium Hospital in Mississauga. But while en route, paramedics restored a faint pulse and doctors had him transferred to SickKids instead. A third drowning took place at a home in Etobicoke, where a two-year-old girl was found with vital signs absent and pulled from a pool. Paramedics performed CPR on the girl, and she was breathing and conscious. She was taken to Humber River Regional Hospital.With a report from CTV Toronto's Natalie JohnsonReactReply
- JAJackNeilsonAug 3, 2010
bump
ReactReply - MEMemberAug 3, 2010
bump
ReactReply - PHPhilfreeeukAug 4, 2010
Bump!
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 4, 2010
And another bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 5, 2010
Again, following more reports of drownings.
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 5, 2010
Bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 5, 2010
Another drowning death (backyard pool) of a child just reported on the news.
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 6, 2010
Bump
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 7, 2010
bump again
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 8, 2010
Lets try to keep this visible
ReactReply - JAJackNeilsonAug 8, 2010
More drownings reported every day. Prevention is the best cure but knowledge is invaluable
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