Hoodie Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 http://www.today.com/id/24982210/ns/today-today_health/t/boys-death-highlights-hidden-danger-dry-drowning/#.UcCZ8fmsh8F The tragic death of a South Carolina 10-year-old more than an hour after he had gone swimming has focused a spotlight on the little-known phenomenon called “dry drowning” — and warning signs that every parent should be aware of. “I’ve never known a child could walk around, talk, speak and their lungs be filled with water,” Cassandra Jackson told NBC News in a story broadcast Thursday on TODAY. On Sunday, Jackson had taken her son, Johnny, to a pool near their home in Goose Creek, S.C. It was the first time he’d ever gone swimming — and, tragically, it would be his last. At some point during his swim, Johnny got some water in his lungs. He didn’t show any immediate signs of respiratory distress, but the boy had an accident in the pool and soiled himself. Still, Johnny, his sister and their mother walked home together. “We physically walked home. He walked with me,” Jackson said, still trying to understand how her son could have died. “I bathed him, and he told me that he was sleepy.” Later, she went into his room to check on him. “I walked over to the bed, and his face was literally covered with this spongy white material,” she said. “And I screamed.” A family friend, Christine Meekins, was visiting and went to see what was wrong. “I pulled his arm and said, ‘Johnny! Johnny!’ ” Meekins told NBC. “There was no response. I opened one of his eyes and I just knew inside my heart that it was something really bad.” Johnny was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late. Johnny had drowned, long after he got out of the swimming pool. 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. The three important signs, he said, are difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness and changes in behavior. All are the result of reduced oxygen flow to the brain. Johnny had two of those signs — he was very tired when he got home, and he had had the accident in the pool. But like most parents, Cassandra Jackson had no idea this could be related to water in his lungs. Rauch said that the phenomenon of dry drowning is not completely understood. But medical researchers say that in some people, a small amount of inhaled water can have a delayed-reaction effect. “It can take a while for the process to occur and to set in and cause difficulties,” Rauch said. “Because it is a lung process, difficulty breathing is the first sign that you would be worried about.” The second sign is extreme fatigue, which isn’t always easy to spot. “It’s very difficult to tell when your child is abnormally tired versus normal tired after a hot day and running around in the pool,” Rauch said. “The job of the lungs is to get oxygen into the blood and your brain needs oxygen to keep working, so when your brain isn’t getting oxygen, it can start doing funny things. One of them is becoming excessively tired, losing consciousness and the inability to be aroused appropriately.” Finally, there are changes in behavior, Rauch said — another tough call when dealing with very small children, whose moods and behavior can change from one minute to the next. “Another response of the brain to not getting oxygen is to do different things,” Rauch explained, saying parents should be concerned “if your child’s abnormally cranky, abnormally combative — any dramatic change from their normal pattern.” He admitted, “It is very difficult to pick this up sometimes.” But spotting the warning signs and getting a suspected victim to an emergency room can save a life, he added. Victims of dry drowning are treated by having a breathing tube inserted so that oxygen can be supplied under pressure to the lungs. “Then we just wait for the lung to heal itself,” he said. But for Cassandra Jackson, it’s knowledge gained too late. She and Meekins sat in her home, looking at pictures of the bright and happy son who was no more. “He was very loving, full of life,” the grieving mother said. “That was my little man.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RadarJammer Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 a cup of coffee and a good drowning story is the right way to start the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fiznuthian Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Oh my god that is so sad. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorkingtonPugsly Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 That's so tragic. We're so susceptible to these odd accidents, it's scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuatxuk Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Absolutely devastating story, hope it gets more publicity for the sake of preventing a similar death. I noticed it said it was "his first time swimming" and there's no doubt in my mind that factored in his inhalation of water. I don't fault the parents, I think they simply took for granted that most kids go swimming and figure it out at that age, but lessons and basic swimming tips could of possibly prevented this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumpenprol Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Never heard about this, strange they don't talk about it more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorkingtonPugsly Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Never heard about this, strange they don't talk about it more. It's like the flesh eating bacteria, it happens so rarely and when it does a lot of the times it's kept quiet and what not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumpenprol Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 they said 10-15% of drownings, that's not statistically insignificant. That's more than 1 in 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorkingtonPugsly Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Yeah your right, that's weird. This is the first time I've heard of this. But apparently it's common enough, so it should really be common knowledge. The least I can do spread the word amongst people I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattern recognition Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 oy, having just come from my 6 year old's swim class, i will now not be able to concentrate on work...or anything. i think i'll call my wife and have her keep my daughter up all night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshuatxuk Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 oy, having just come from my 6 year old's swim class, i will now not be able to concentrate on work...or anything. i think i'll call my wife and have her keep my daughter up all night. well with swimming lessons he's already in a better situation than this poor kid: it was his first time swimming but yeah I would freaking out too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattern recognition Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 oy, having just come from my 6 year old's swim class, i will now not be able to concentrate on work...or anything. i think i'll call my wife and have her keep my daughter up all night. well with swimming lessons he's already in a better situation than this poor kid: it was his first time swimming but yeah I would freaking out too yeah, being a parent sometimes is equal parts rewarding and terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdust Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 Used to be a lifeguard back in the day, this is one of the things we were taught about after a near miss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadameChaos Posted June 19, 2013 Share Posted June 19, 2013 I thought babies/young children instinctively hold their breath when their head goes under water? BTW I think that first aid should be a compulsary part of education. (Although sadly I don't think it would have made a difference here). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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