I think this article is important enough to send it to everyone I know. Unless you live in a desert and you’ve only ever seen water in bottles, please read about why Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning.
Imagine for a moment what a drowning person looks like.
Now go read the article, because if you’re like most people, you’re getting your image of a drowning person from what you’ve seen on TV and the movies, a panicked person flailing his arms and calling for help.
To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) – of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening(source: CDC).
Please read the full article; I would cut and paste the bullet points but I honestly think it’s better for everyone to take the five minutes and read the complete piece so they’ll understand exactly what happens.
It isn’t graphic. Yes, it’s scary, but it’s better to be scared briefly and informed forever than to grieve.
Thank you!
I was at a swim party, when I nearly had to knock two women out of my way to get to a drowning child. It was just like that, she slipped off a float and couldn’t get to the surface.
I yelled at an older, taller child standing a couple of feet from the drowning child. The older child was able to pull the drowning child to the surface. The “ladies” who were blocking my way to the pool still didn’t get it. I’m afraid I let ever adult there have it full force. The problem with large groups around the pool, is everyone assumes everyone is watching the children. Then I was able to get to the edge and pull the child out with the help of the older child. Only then did the adults notice the children were all paniced – because they realized the little one nearly drowned.
The 1 adult who noticed, was the only one without a child or grandchild in the pool.
Wow. 🙁 That’s just — Wow.
I’m so glad you were there for that child.
This is definitely great information, especially since everyone knows someone with a pool.
Thanks for sharing
Now that you mention it, I don’t think I know anyone with a pool. At least not well enough that I’d ever be in the pool.
I do, however, know the kind folks at the YMCA who for a certain fee are willing to allow us to use their pool. 😉
There was just a topic on ehell about a parent who won’t watch their child at a family party with a pool…I posted the link you had.
Thanks for getting the word out — it’s so scary to think of what could happen. 🙁
I still miss ehell.