Some time ago a case grabbed the headlines on NBC causing a huge commotion among parents around the world. It was about the death of a boy of just 10 years after having spent a normal day bathing in a pool. What happened?
Cassandra Jackson and her son Johnny went to a swimming pool near their house to spend a nice day. They spent the whole day bathing and having fun. However, when they were on the way home, the little boy told his mother that he felt a little bad and that he was very sleepy with Lifeguard Class.
Cassandra didn’t suspect anything, she thought it was normal exhaustion after having spent an intense day. When they got home, Johnny lay down but after a while, when his mother went to give him a lift, she saw with alarm that the little boy was not breathing.
The mother rushed her son to the hospital but the little boy did not survive. Doctors said the cause of death was drowning. Obviously, Cassandra did not understand what had happened since her son had not shown any of the usual symptoms of drowning.
However, the truth is that this case is not unique. Every year several children die due to this phenomenon, known as secondary drowning.
What is secondary drowning and how to recognize it?
Fortunately, secondary drowning (or dry drowning) is a rare phenomenon, accounting for just 1% of drowning cases, but it can quickly claim a person’s life if immediate medical attention is not received. In this case, the adult or child inhales water, but unlike what happens in a classic drowning, the symptoms appear 15 minutes or even 72 hours later.
The most usual thing is that it occurs after having suffered a semi-drowning, but in the case of children, parents may not realize what is happening. That is why this phenomenon is so dangerous.
Basically, what happens during secondary drowning is that the inhaled water remains stagnant in the lungs, and this accumulation of liquids ends up causing breathing difficulties, even causing death. The lungs are not able to transport enough oxygen to the blood. In this way, it ends up producing great damage to the lung tissue.
The most common symptoms are extreme and unusual tiredness, an intense cough, shortness of breath, and abnormal behavior that indicates neurological problems, such as memory loss, difficulties concentrating or articulating words.
However, it should be clarified that the simple fact that the child swallows a little water and coughs normally is not enough to cause a secondary drowning. However, if the little one suffered a drowning, even if he regains consciousness quickly and appears normal, it is advisable to take him to a hospital immediately since a dry drowning can also occur, which is due to a spasm of the larynx since this, when closed to prevent water from entering, does not allow air to circulate either.
Drowning in swimming pools
Another problem caused by drowning in swimming pools is that chemical pneumonitis can occur, which is due to the lungs having absorbed the chemicals normally found in swimming pools, which have irritated and inflamed the lung tissue.
To avoid this type of accident, it is recommended that parents do not lose sight of their little ones while they swim at the beach or in the pool. It is also recommended to teach them to swim as soon as possible, to minimize this risk.
Some time ago a case grabbed the headlines on NBC causing a huge commotion among parents around the world. It was about the death of a boy of just 10 years after having spent a normal day bathing in a pool. What happened?
Cassandra Jackson and her son Johnny went to a swimming pool near their house to spend a nice day. They spent the whole day bathing and having fun. However, when they were on the way home, the little boy told his mother that he felt a little bad and that he was very sleepy.
Cassandra didn’t suspect anything, she thought it was normal exhaustion after having spent an intense day. When they got home, Johnny lay down but after a while, when his mother went to give him a lift, she saw with alarm that the little boy was not breathing.
The mother rushed her son to the hospital but the little boy did not survive. Doctors said the cause of death was drowning. Obviously, Cassandra did not understand what had happened since her son had not shown any of the usual symptoms of drowning.
However, the truth is that this case is not unique. Every year several children die due to this phenomenon, known as secondary drowning.
What is secondary drowning and how to recognize it?
Fortunately, secondary drowning (or dry drowning) is a rare phenomenon, accounting for just 1% of drowning cases, but it can quickly claim a person’s life if immediate medical attention is not received. In this case, the adult or child inhales water, but unlike what happens in a classic drowning, the symptoms appear 15 minutes or even 72 hours later.
The most usual thing is that it occurs after having suffered a semi-drowning, but in the case of children, parents may not realize what is happening. That is why this phenomenon is so dangerous.
Basically, what happens during secondary drowning is that the inhaled water remains stagnant in the lungs, and this accumulation of liquids ends up causing breathing difficulties, even causing death. The lungs are not able to transport enough oxygen to the blood. In this way, it ends up producing great damage to the lung tissue.
The most common symptoms are: extreme and unusual tiredness, an intense cough, shortness of breath, and abnormal behavior that indicates neurological problems, such as memory loss, difficulties concentrating or articulating words.
However, it should be clarified that the simple fact that the child swallows a little water and coughs normally is not enough to cause a secondary drowning. However, if the little one suffered a drowning, even if he regains consciousness quickly and appears normal, it is advisable to take him to a hospital immediately since a dry drowning can also occur, which is due to a spasm of the larynx since this, when closed to prevent water from entering, does not allow air to circulate either.
Another problem caused by drowning in swimming pools is that chemical pneumonitis can occur, which is due to the lungs having absorbed the chemicals normally found in swimming pools, which have irritated and inflamed the lung tissue. .
To avoid this type of accident, it is recommended that parents do not lose sight of their little ones while they swim at the beach or in the pool. It is also recommended to teach them to swim as soon as possible, to minimize this risk.
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