**If you have kids, you will want to read this**
How many of you have heard of Dry Drowning? I hadn't at all until yesterday when I read this article at MSNBC.com. Basically, it is the story of a 10-year-old boy who died an hour or so after he walked home from a day at the pool. What!? How is that possible???? Well, according to Wikipedia.org:
"Dry drowning is when a person's lungs become unable to extract oxygen from the air, due primarily to:
- Muscular paralysis
- Puncture wound to the torso (affecting ability of diaphragm to create respiratory movement)
- Changes to the oxygen-absorbing tissues
- Persistence of laryngospasm when immersed in fluid
- Breathing for too long any gas other than oxygen that does not kill the patient on its own. (e.g. Helium)
The person may effectively drown without any sort of fluid. In cases of dry drowning in which the victim was immersed, very little fluid is aspirated into the lungs. The laryngospasm reflex essentially causes asphyxiation and neurogenic pulmonary edema (oedema)."
MSNBC.com also had this to say:
"According to the Centers for Disease Control, some 3,600 people drowned
in 2005, the most recent year for which there are statistics. Some 10
to 15 percent of those deaths was classified as “dry drowning,” which
can occur up to 24 hours after a small amount of water gets into the
lungs. In children, that can happen during a bath."
Symptoms include:
1. Trouble breathing
2. Extreme fatigue
3. Unexpected change in behavior
Just thought everyone should know about this....
That's too scary!! Glad to have this info, especially since we just got a pool!
Thanks for passing it along!
Posted by: autumn dahlia | June 06, 2008 at 02:07 PM
WOW! I have never heard of that before. Thank you so much! I will let my sisters know.
Posted by: Denise H. | June 06, 2008 at 04:15 PM
That's terrifying! Seriously, I don't want to bathe my kids. They are always drinking and choking on the waters, any amount can get in there. I'll have to look into this more. Thanks for the info though, it's good to know!
Posted by: michelle | June 06, 2008 at 08:34 PM
Now, that IS Scary!!! I haven't ever heard of that... and I don't know how many times Jaz has possibly swallowed water... I'll have to pass this info on to everyone! Scary stuff! Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Dana | June 06, 2008 at 10:05 PM
oh my goodness! that's great info to pass along. I'll be sure to share it with others myself.
Posted by: leslie | June 09, 2008 at 03:05 AM