"Drowning doesn`t look like drowning" — Announcements on True Nudists on True Nudists

MemberOriginal Poster

Jul 17, 2010

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 SteveLAST PAGE

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JE
jenorsteve
Jan 23, 2011
Back to the top for all our Aussie/Kiwi friends and any one else enjoying swim weather...

Jen
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JA
JackNeilson
Mar 9, 2011
[quote]Time for a monthly bump.[/quote] I agree. With good weather coming to the northern hemisphere people should be aware of this thread.
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BU
Bud
Apr 30, 2011
Thanks for re-posting this...
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EV
EvansBetterHalf
May 12, 2011
And another bump
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JA
JackNeilson
Jun 20, 2011
I think its time we gave this another bump. Far too many drownings this time of year
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ME
MemberOriginal Poster
Jun 24, 2011
Have a very safe summer everyone!!!!
Jen
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 7, 2011
This needs to be on the home page, for people to read every day. It may just save another life.
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 9, 2011
Bump
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JA
JackNeilson
Jul 11, 2011
Another bump
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 11, 2011
Good to see I'm not the only one having to bump a reminder to people.
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 11, 2011
Good to see I'm not the only one having to bump a reminder to people. We should have this on the HomePage at least once a day.
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JA
JackNeilson
Jul 15, 2011
Bump
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 18, 2011
It's good to see this thread appearing a little more, I think it should be brought to peoples attention at least once or twice a day.
ReactReply
JA
JackNeilson
Jul 19, 2011
I agree. Two more drownings yesterday.
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JA
JackNeilson
Jul 21, 2011
And now three more reported.
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 23, 2011
Bump
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JA
JackNeilson
Jul 23, 2011
Probably due to the extreme heat this summer drownings occur far too often.
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JA
JackNeilson
Jul 29, 2011
Time for another bump
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MI
MidGaNudist
Jul 30, 2011
Bump
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Jul 30, 2011
Time for this to be back.
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CD
Cheri Donna Dawson
Jul 31, 2011
[quote]Good to see I'm not the only one having to bump a reminder to people.[/quote]
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Aug 9, 2011
Last week a young lad just down the road from us, died after falling into a pool in his back garden.
People are still not taking the dangers of water seriously enough.
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Aug 11, 2011
bump
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MA
ManOfWicklow
Aug 16, 2011
[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] Thank you, for this timely information. There are few greater tragedies than losing a child. We , who have children expect them to out live us, not the other way around. I know there was a "bump" debate thread, but I believe this should be bumped throughout the Summer season, of both hemispheres. It would be nice to have a special place on TN, where items like this have a permanent place on the "Home" page. Thank you, Peter[/quote] Time for a bump to keep this on the Home Page. It may just help to save another life.
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