The Instinctive drowning response
|
It is often not obvious that a person is drowning.
In reality, many people who get into trouble in the water usually lack the strength or time to shout, wave arms or do the usual things you might think a drowning person would try to do to draw attention. Instead in involuntary reaction known as Instinctive Drowning Response kicks in as the victim tries to gain air and leverage but in a very quiet way that often goes unnoticed by those looking on. For the sake of your own family, friends and community, it is useful to know how to quickly identify a potentially drowning person. |
|
Wipe the Hollywood version of drowning from your memory. Television, movie portrayals of drowning tend to overplay the actions of the drowning person, showing shouting, arm waving, splashing and other active means for drawing attention.
In reality drowning happens quickly and often quietly, with most headlines about victims reading companions / parents “failed to notice” and didn’t see anything untoward.
The silent and non-splashing reality of most drowning’s is due to the “Instinctive Drowning Response”, which causes a drowning person to focus solely on trying to breathe, leaving no time for calling out or arm waving. The person does not usually look as if he or she is drowning to onlookers, and sadly, this reality has resulted in people drowning right in front of potential rescuers and, given that many victims are children, even more tragically parents.
While still potentially life threatening and requiring a rescue response, aquatic distress is not involuntary. The person recognises he or she is in trouble, is worried about drowning but at this stage still has the ability to make noise, grab rescue equipment if offers and will likely be kicking to stay afloat. This phase won’t last long but, if you can get an object to the victim or get to the victim during this phase, they will likely be responsive to the help.
Aquatic distress may or may NOT be visible in children. The reality is that children tend to struggle less than adults and may even appear to be doing the “dog paddle”.
DON’T BE LULLED INTO EXPECTING A CHILD TO MAKE A RESPONSE IF HE OR SHE IS DROWNING!
This response was summarised by Mario Vittone and Francesco A. Pia PhD in their article “How to Recognize the Instinctive Drowning response”; the Instinctive Drowning Response will cause the following actions in a drowning person:
Breathing as quickly as possible whenever the mouth actually manages to go above the water, this means there is no time to shout - only time to breathe as fast as possible. The breathing action takes precedence over any vocal ability.
The arms will extend to the sides in an attempt to try and get above the water. Then the arms will actually press down, to try and gain lift up and out of the water for the mouth to breathe. This doesn’t leave time of energy for waving arms above the head.
A drowning person is not in control of his or her motions. The arms and the attempts to breathe are both involuntary actions to save the victim from drowning. This means that there is no time to think about voluntary actions to draw attention to the act of drowning.
In fact this even EXCLUDES the ability to voluntarily reach for a piece of rescue gear!
If the instinctive Drowning response takes over, the drowning person won’t kick to support their body. The body is upright in the water, and the arms are doing all the work to try and stay afloat.
Within 20 to 60 seconds the person will submerge if not rescued!
In reality drowning happens quickly and often quietly, with most headlines about victims reading companions / parents “failed to notice” and didn’t see anything untoward.
The silent and non-splashing reality of most drowning’s is due to the “Instinctive Drowning Response”, which causes a drowning person to focus solely on trying to breathe, leaving no time for calling out or arm waving. The person does not usually look as if he or she is drowning to onlookers, and sadly, this reality has resulted in people drowning right in front of potential rescuers and, given that many victims are children, even more tragically parents.
While still potentially life threatening and requiring a rescue response, aquatic distress is not involuntary. The person recognises he or she is in trouble, is worried about drowning but at this stage still has the ability to make noise, grab rescue equipment if offers and will likely be kicking to stay afloat. This phase won’t last long but, if you can get an object to the victim or get to the victim during this phase, they will likely be responsive to the help.
Aquatic distress may or may NOT be visible in children. The reality is that children tend to struggle less than adults and may even appear to be doing the “dog paddle”.
DON’T BE LULLED INTO EXPECTING A CHILD TO MAKE A RESPONSE IF HE OR SHE IS DROWNING!
This response was summarised by Mario Vittone and Francesco A. Pia PhD in their article “How to Recognize the Instinctive Drowning response”; the Instinctive Drowning Response will cause the following actions in a drowning person:
Breathing as quickly as possible whenever the mouth actually manages to go above the water, this means there is no time to shout - only time to breathe as fast as possible. The breathing action takes precedence over any vocal ability.
The arms will extend to the sides in an attempt to try and get above the water. Then the arms will actually press down, to try and gain lift up and out of the water for the mouth to breathe. This doesn’t leave time of energy for waving arms above the head.
A drowning person is not in control of his or her motions. The arms and the attempts to breathe are both involuntary actions to save the victim from drowning. This means that there is no time to think about voluntary actions to draw attention to the act of drowning.
In fact this even EXCLUDES the ability to voluntarily reach for a piece of rescue gear!
If the instinctive Drowning response takes over, the drowning person won’t kick to support their body. The body is upright in the water, and the arms are doing all the work to try and stay afloat.
Within 20 to 60 seconds the person will submerge if not rescued!
how to spot a drowning person
Now that you understand the Instinctive Drowning Response, be aware of the following signs that may indicate a person is experiencing it when in the water (note: the depth does NOT matter, drowning can occur in shallow water just as easily as it can in deep water).
The following are all symptoms of Instinctive Drowning Response:-
Be aware that toddlers / small children are top heavy and may lose their footing very quickly in shallow water (such as wading pool depth) which will cause them to float.
If you are near a person showing any of the above signs, talk to them.
Put safety before concerns about offence, inconvenience or embarrassment. It is better to seem overly cautious than to avoid asking a simple question.
Ask quickly:
“Are you alright? An answer will mean they are probably OK; although they may be panicking and you can still go to their aid. No Answer, a blank stare or continuation of any of the previously described actions mean that you need to respond immediately and get them to safety and WITHIN 30 seconds!
Even if the person seems to be treading water and looking up at you, ask them if they are OK. This upright state is a classic position just prior to submerging!
The following are all symptoms of Instinctive Drowning Response:-
- The victims head is constantly low in the water and his or her mouth stays at water level.
- The head may be tilted backward, with the mouth open
- The eyes may be glassy, empty looking and failing to focus or they may be closed.
- Hair may flop over the face, forehead, eyes (and the victim makes no attempt to remove it)
- The victim fails to kick with or move their legs, he or she is vertical in the water (not swimming or floating).
- The victim may be breathing very quickly (hyperventilating) or gasping for air.
- Attempts to swim may be noticeable but the victim fails to get anywhere.
- The victim may try to roll over on his or her back.
- It may seem as if the person is trying to climb an invisible ladder = this is the attempt to get above and out of the water.
- The victim is quiet – this is especially relevant to children as most children are noisy during water play!
Be aware that toddlers / small children are top heavy and may lose their footing very quickly in shallow water (such as wading pool depth) which will cause them to float.
If you are near a person showing any of the above signs, talk to them.
Put safety before concerns about offence, inconvenience or embarrassment. It is better to seem overly cautious than to avoid asking a simple question.
Ask quickly:
“Are you alright? An answer will mean they are probably OK; although they may be panicking and you can still go to their aid. No Answer, a blank stare or continuation of any of the previously described actions mean that you need to respond immediately and get them to safety and WITHIN 30 seconds!
Even if the person seems to be treading water and looking up at you, ask them if they are OK. This upright state is a classic position just prior to submerging!
Remember you will only have a few seconds to act and, quite possibly, save a life!
National Coastwatch Institution Registered Charity No. 1159975
