PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- The summer swim season is heating up, meaning the risk for drowning and nearly drowning could also be on the rise.
This week, Palm Beach County rescue crews have responded to two near-drownings in swimming pools.
But, even if a child comes out of the water walking and talking, seemingly just fine, there is the chance that they could drown hours after a struggle in the water.
The occurrence is referred to by some as “dry drowning”, or secondary drowning.
The lack of oxygen to the brain can cause slow setting, life-threatening symptoms. Medical experts also say water filling the lungs that doesn’t empty can irritate the lungs, causing them to produce fluid.
Dry drownings account for a very minimal amount of drowning deaths nationwide, but medical experts say parents should still be watchful.
At Small Fish Big Fish in Palm Beach County, Nikole DeSilva put her 11-month-old daughter in swim lessons as soon as she could. “Probably before she was born I wanted to do that,” DeSilva said. “The earlier you start, the easier it is.”
It gives her peace of mind knowing if her daughter were to ever be in a struggle to swim, she’s trained to help herself if she’s accidentally unattended.
“It’s scary. It’s scary to know it can happen,” DeSilva said.
Small Fish Big Fish founder, Melissa Taylor, says seconds can be the difference between a fatal drowning and a near-drowning.
“Drowning can occur in less time than it takes to answer a telephone,” Taylor said
Parents might not even know their child is drowning. “People have this misconception that drowning looks like it does in the movies, that kids are flailing and people are screaming. It’s not the case,” Taylor said.
That’s why Taylor says it’s important to keep an eye on your children.
Taylor says if your child has had a near drowning, or was underwater for a prolonged period of time, you should keep an eye on them for at least 8-hours for any changes in behavior.
That includes:
- Choking
- Coughing
- Worsening symptoms
- Trouble breathing
- Losing consciousness
“Don’t take the chance. Take them to the emergency room,” Taylor said.
Some of the symptoms may not seem like a sign of a problem, such as coughing, which can happen just from swallowing water. Taylor said it’s important that you know what is and is not normal for your own child.
She says parents are asking about “dry drowning” and staying educated. She hopes more will learn about it to keep children as safe as possible.
Taylor also gives “wet cards” to parents to use at pool parties. They are a card handed to parents to designate who has the duty to watch children swimming in the pool at any given time.