Dry Drowning: Know the Signs – Part one of two

 You’ll worry a whole lot less once you know the signs of submersion injuries, and how to prevent them. Chances are you’ve read scary warning stories about “dry drowning” or “secondary drowning” — terms you probably never even knew existed before you became a parent — on social media. The idea that your child could “drown” on dry land is admittedly terrifying, and makes many parents feel helpless. But these rare incidents can be prevented. Get the facts you need to help keep your kids as safe as possible in and out of the water.
What is dry drowning?
The terms “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” (also called submersion injuries) are often used interchangeably — even by some experts — but they’re actually different conditions, says Mark R. Zonfrillo, M.D., MSCE, attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
In dry drowning, someone takes in a small amount of water through his or her nose and/or mouth, and it causes a spasm in the airway, causing it to close up. In secondary drowning, the little bit of water gets into the lungs and causes inflammation or swelling that makes it difficult or impossible for the body to transfer oxygen to carbon dioxide and vice versa. Dry drowning usually happens soon after exiting the water, but with secondary drowning, there can be a delay of up to 24 hours before the person shows signs of distress. Both can cause trouble breathing and, in worst-case scenarios, death.
More important than the difference between the two — Dr. Zonfrillo says they’re both equally dangerous, and in fact, some experts reject the terms altogether, and simply refer to a “spectrum” of drowning — is knowing how to prevent such submersion injuries, and identify when your child is having trouble breathing after a swim.
Is it common?
Rest assured: Dry drowning and secondary drowning incidents, while incredibly scary, are rare, says Dr. Zonfrillo, and account for only about one to two percent of drowning incidents.
There are no specific stats on how many kids die each year from these types of submersion injuries, but it’s very few, says Kathleen Berchelmann, M.D., a pediatrician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. In fact, in 12 years practicing as a pediatrician, she’s only seen one patient who suffered from drowning that happened long after getting out of the pool.
Still, she says, it was a life-threatening scenario, and if you’re going to be spending time at the pool, ocean, or lake this summer, it’s smart to be aware of the signs and symptoms.
Look for the continuation of this article in the September issue of The Magazine of Santa Clarita.