Fatal or Non-Fatal Drowning

Does your child go swimming? Do you watch your kids while they swim? Almost all of us do, however are you aware that the life of the child could be under threat, even after they’ve come out of the water?

According to Barbara Byers of Canada’s Lifesaving Society,

“A child could die 24 hours later after they have been in the water”. 

Especially with the kids who suffer from inhaling and coughing up water. Their life could be in danger as the water can affect the lungs and can lead to the increase in fluid build-up. Any excess accumulation of water can block the air entering into the lungs. This could lead to the death of the child.

Some people call this kind of death as dry or secondary drowning, but the World Health Organization, named it as fatal or non-fatal drowning since 2005. The documented evidence of this kind of fatal or non-fatal drowning occurred in South Carolina was with a ten-year old boy. The boy went for a trip to the pool, soiled himself and had taken a bath at home on return. After the bath, he went to take a nap and was found dead in his sleep. The medical reports revealed that the cause of death was excess water in the lungs.

According to Lifesaving Society, 

“Children under 10, but primarily those under five, are most at-risk. It is highly recommended that parents should watch out their kids once they are out of water. They need to look for certain signs, such as persistent coughing, chest discomfort and difficulty in breathing, etc. to avoid such incidents.”

Prevention is always better than the cure. Parents need to take certain measures before sending their kids under water. Anything bad can be happened within seconds. Don’t leave your kids unattended in the water. As per Shelley Dalke, Director of Swimming and Water Safety for the Canadian Red Cross, “Don’t assume because a child can swim they need less supervision. Things can happen”.

This study by the Lifesaving Society created an awareness among parents, that water can be a silent killer, even after the child is out of water. It’s better to educate their children also to call for help in case they feel any of the above-mentioned symptoms.

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