What Is Secondary Drowning?

Photo of a pool

According to KVUE, earlier in June, a two-year-old girl began to choke in her sleep. Her parents were nearby and they noticed that she had water coming out of her nose and mouth.

Hours before, the family had been swimming in a hotel pool. Fortunately, the mother of the child knew what was happening to her: she was struggling to breath because of secondary drowning.

The parents rushed their daughter to the hospital where doctors were able to save her life and confirm that she had drowned while sleeping.

KVUE, reports that secondary drowning or “dry” drowning “can occur up to 24 hours after leaving water.” This occurs in 1 to 2 percent of all drowning cases.

Dry drowning occurs when a person breathes in small quantities of water that pools in their lungs. This inhalation of water usually occurs when a person is struggling while swimming.

Water that has collected in the lungs is called pulmonary edema. Fluid inside of the lung causes the muscles to contract involuntarily which makes breathing very difficult.

The Mayo Clinic says that the symptoms of pulmonary edema may occur suddenly or slowly. The symptoms to look out for include:

• Extreme shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Gasping for breath
• A suffocating feeling
• A cough that produces frothy sputum (this may have a little bit of blood in it as well)
• Sweating heavily
• Pale skin
• Rapid and irregular heartbeat

Find an Austin Personal Injury Lawyer

The summer months are a time for hanging outside by the pool. However, if kids and adults are not monitored during and after swimming, serious injury or death can result. Visit the website of The Law Offices of Aaron Allison to learn more about other injuries that can occur while swimming at a pool.

The Law Offices of Aaron Allison – Austin Personal Injury Attorney