What is Dry Drowning?

Dry drowning, otherwise known as secondary, or delayed, drowning, is a medical emergency takes place when a swimmer experiences a near-drowning accident and is unable to get enough oxygen into their bloodstream. While this type of injury typically occurs when a person has difficulty breathing, even if the person appears to have suffered no physical damage and appears to be in perfect health, it can still result in permanent brain damage, respiratory damage or even death if not treated quickly.

What Causes Dry Drowning?

Most cases of dry drowning happen when a person either inhales or ingest a large amount of water. This can occur if a person is struggling in the water and inhales suddenly, or if a person ingests water through their mouth and cannot take a proper breath. Other causes of dry drowning can include a loss of consciousness due to a heart attack, cardiac arrest, alcohol intoxication, inhalation of a foreign object, or other respiratory issues.

How to Prevent Dry Drowning

The most important step for preventing dry drowning is to make sure that children, teens and adults alike are always supervised when in or around water. If a person is struggling or is seemingly unable to safely get out of the water or recover their breath, they should be assisted immediately. It is also important to take note of how long a person has been underwater, any difficulty getting out of the water and any changes in their breathing or behavior.

In order to further prevent dry drowning, it is important to ensure that children are always trained and supervised in water safety and swimming lessons. These should be repeated regularly and it is important to emphasize proper breath-control techniques and water safety regulations. Last but not least, regular swimming should be avoided if the swimmer feels dizzy or has difficulty breathing.

Dry drowning is a serious and potentially life-threatening medical emergency. If a person suddenly develops any difficulty breathing after having been in a swimming pool or near water, medical help should be sought immediately. If a person experiences any neurological changes such as confusion, loss of consciousness, seizure or coma, immediate medical help should be sought and their airways should be assessed in order to begin the necessary life-saving treatment. Prevention is the best cure and with the proper knowledge and adequate supervision, dry drowning can be avoided.