Signs of Dry Drowning
Most parents feel that their watchdog duties end when their offspring leave the water. But dry drowning typically isn’t noticed until hours after the incident occurs, and your child may look perfectly normal until the symptoms become so severe that it’s obvious he or she is suffering from ill health.
Dry drowning is a reaction that happens not from the water taken in during swimming activities, but as a secondary reaction to it. Water never reaches the lungs, but spasms in the vocal cords can cause airways to close, leaving your child gasping for air.
The symptoms are fairly distressing and obvious once they occur. They include chest pain, coughing, extreme fatigue and difficulty breathing. As a result, your child may become either extremely irritable or come close to passing out, which can mean the brain isn't getting enough oxygen. Some children begin throwing up or go from extremely active to sleepy in a very short time span. They can also complain of feeling ill or exhibit extreme forgetfulness, a sign that the brain is fighting for oxygen.
Certainly, any child pulled from the water by a lifeguard or other caregiver needs to be monitored closely for symptoms.
If you suspect dry drowning, time is of the essence in seeking medical attention. The condition is treatable if caught in time. Take your child directly to the emergency room or an advanced care unit because chest X-rays, intravenous fluids and trauma observation are essential to combatting the problem. There are no drugs to help with the breathing problem, but severe problems can always be helped by insertion of a breathing tube. Trained medical professionals will monitor your child to make sure that breathing is steady and airways are getting enough oxygen.