You need to know about Secondary Drowning
As soon as the temperature rises, families flock to the nearest body of water, whether it be the lake, river, ocean, or pool. It's one of the best parts of the summer, being able to swim every day! However, when children are on, in, or near the water, parents and caregivers needs to be on alert to keep the kids safe. It's Safe Kids Week: Safe Swimming. Safe Splashing. Safe Kids.
Most of us know what drowning looks like and know how to react appropriately. But, have you heard of secondary drowning? Last week, a US mother shared a frightening story of how her son almost drowned, hoping to express caution to other families. the toddler was attending a pool party and went underwater for a brief moment, but recovered quickly afterwards. It was what happened in the hours after the party was any parent's nightmare. The toddler was acting lathargic and had an odd cough, causing his mother to call the pediatrician. The doctor urged them to go to ER right away, and mentioned secondary drowning. It's a good thing too, as some similar incidents have ended tragically.
Secondary drowning, or dry drowning, occurs when water enters the lungs and collects there, making it difficult to breathe. It is recommended that any child that falls into the water or experienced a near-drowning incident should visit the ER immediately, to ensure there are no additional symptoms. As long as there is early intervention, a child can recover from it, as many have.
We found information at Global News about secondary or dry drowning. All families and caregivers should be aware of the warning signs and know what to do in case an incident occurs.
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