An uncovered and unsupervised pool is a drowning waiting to happen. You can’t have your eyes on your child at all times especially in the case of curious toddlers who can slip out of sight so quickly, but having an understanding of what happens during a drowning can make a significant impact on the child’s recovery. Even if you do get to the pool in time and save your child’s life, the chance of long-term brain damage is a very real possibility.
Some common questions about drowning are answered here.
So what really happens to a child’s body in a drowning accident?
- 1 Inability to keep the airway clear
In this stage, the child will try their best to breathe without submerging underwater. For those who can’t swim, this can be one of the shortest phases, lasting anywhere from 20 to 60 seconds. Time can vary based on the child’s clothing and the water temperature.
- 2 Initial submerging and breath-holding
The stage of struggling above the surface of the water is followed by submerging, where a child puts the face (nose, mouth) underwater. Involuntary apnea kicks in. This is known as the Mammalian Dive Reflex, and its duration varies from person to person. The Mammalian Dive Reflex restricts blood flow to the body’s extremities thereby preserving oxygen for heart and brain function. It also slows down heart rate and releases red blood cells stored in the spleen.
- 3 Aspiration of water
After prolonged submersion, the Mammalian Dive Reflex relaxes and that’s when the water enters the trachea.
- 4 Loss of consciousness
Build up of carbon dioxide in the lungs leads to hypoxia, resulting in the loss of consciousness. When drowning victims lose consciousness, they are minutes away from preventable death. At this stage, brain cell injury is already in progress.
Can you reverse brain damage from drowning at this stage?
It depends on how long the child is submerged for. The brain is one of the vital organs that will take the hardest hit in a drowning incident since it relies heavily on an oxygen-rich blood supply. If water temperatures are colder than brain temperature, irreversible neuronal cell injury will take 4-10 minutes.
Brain damage is going to be a lifelong consequence of experiencing drowning. Near-drowning victims may have memory loss, poor judgment, and inadequate motor coordination. It’s important to note that in most cases, when a drowning person is rescued, assessing or predicting brain damage is impossible. The final outcome of the drowning may show itself later in life.
- 5 Cardio-respiratory arrest
Between initial submerging and cardio-respiratory arrest, victims spend around 130 seconds under the water surface, putting all their physical effort into survival. In the meantime, blood pressure drops every second and eventually reaches zero. At this point, the chances of survival decrease to almost zero as a drowning person approaches sudden cardiac death without even realizing it.
When rescuing a person with no signs of consciousness, breathing, or pulse, it’s crucial to provide CPR and First Aid help as soon as possible.
- 6 Death
It’s important to note that most recent research indicates that in most drowning cases, outcomes are devastating. Nearly 74% reach a point of no return from clinical death, and only 4% survive but live with health problems.
Layers of safety are crucial in preventing drowning accidents. Block access to the pool water with the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover and ensure responsible adults have eyes on the children at all times when outdoors.
Drowning is quick and silent. For more safety tips, visit www.powerplastics.co.za and follow our social media pages.
Sources – PowerPlastics Pool Covers, Fast Swim Academy
