SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon issued the following announcement on June 30.
Swimming is great exercise, but it can be dangerous for kids who aren’t careful in the water. Drowning remains the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and claims the lives of about 1,000 children each year.
The terms “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” are not medical terms, but have come to the forefront of pool/water safety discussions in recent years. While both events are very rare (only 1%-2% of all drownings), parents should be aware of the symptoms.
Dry Drowning
With this condition water never reaches the lungs, it’s more properly medically defined as “drowning without water aspiration”. Simply breathing in water causes the vocal cords to spasm and close up making it hard to breathe. These signs happen right away and not days later.
Secondary Drowning
Also known as “delayed drowning” a small amount of water reaches the lungs. This can lead to a pulmonary edema (water irritates the lungs’ lining and fluid builds up). Signs of a pulmonary edema include difficulty breathing, coughing and chest pain immediately and could get worse over the next 24 hours.
It’s important parents know these conditions are extremely rare and are often secondary to another injury, trauma or sudden illness. Small children should be continuously supervised in the water and within the reach of an adult. If your child has any breathing problems after getting out of the water, seek medical help.
Original source can be found here.
Source: SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mt. Vernon
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