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You are here: Home / Archives for Summer safety

Dry Drowning 101: Know the Signs with Dr. Mindy Calandro – Ask the Experts

June 13, 2022 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

As if the idea of drowning didn’t strike enough fear into the heart of every parent, recent news headlines and social media posts have brought a new term to the forefront… dry drowning.  You might be thinking, “Well of course my kiddo has had a cough a time or two after their face inadvertently went into the water. Is this something to worry about?”  Here is what parents need to know about so-called “dry drowning.”

Dry drowning

What is dry drowning?

To get scientific, there are actually two entities here:

Dry drowning– This occurs when a small amount of water gets into the nose or mouth, and this water causes a sudden spasm of the airway where it shuts close.  It is almost like the airway is “overprotecting” itself from the water that isn’t supposed to be there.  With dry drowning, there is no water in the lungs.  In these cases, you will see symptoms almost immediately after the water gets into the airway (the airway will not spasm if the water isn’t there).

Delayed or Secondary drowning– In delayed drowning, a child inhales a bit of water through their nose or mouth, and the water actually does make it down into their lungs.  Once in the lungs, the water begins to cause significant irritation and inflammation (after all, water is not supposed to be in our lungs) which leads to something called pulmonary edema.  This can occur anywhere from 1-24 hours after the initial inhaling of the water.

You can see that while these two terms mean something different from a medical standpoint, the term “dry drowning” is often used in the news headlines and on social media to refer to secondary drowning.

How common do these types of submersion injuries occur?

Good news…these are both UNcommon!  It is estimated that either dry or secondary drowning probably accounts for only 1-2% of all drowning-related injuries in children.  Think about all the times your child has inhaled a bit of water while in the bathtub or the pool, and the vast majority of the time, they are a-ok.

What are the symptoms?

Good news again…dry and secondary drowning do not occur without warning signs.  When it comes to dry drowning, the symptoms will often be sudden in onset, and remember, they will occur at the time of the incident (like while they are still standing in the pool water).  Children will have immediate coughing that doesn’t resolve and sudden difficulty breathing.

Now, with secondary drowning, the symptoms usually do not start immediately after they inhaled the water.  It takes time for the inflammation to begin in the lungs.  Rather kiddos will start with coughing, trouble breathing, faster breathing, fever, vomiting, extreme sleepiness or a drastic change in behavior anywhere from 1-24 hours later.

dry drowning

What should parents do if they suspect dry or secondary drowning?

If your child has been swimming and in the hours following a swim they show any of the above signs, they need to be brought to medical attention immediately.  These symptoms certainly might end up being just the start of a circulating summer virus, but it is important to make sure that it is not secondary drowning.  Often a good physical exam by your child’s doctor as well as checking of vital signs including their oxygen levels and sometimes even a chest x-ray can help to ensure that their lungs do not have fluid that shouldn’t be there.

And a quick reminder here as well…anytime a child has required a pool rescue of any kind, at a minimum, there needs to be a call to your child’s pediatrician.  Depending on how long the child was under water, many of these kiddos also need to be evaluated by a medical professional.

How can you prevent dry or secondary drowning?

Both of these entities really fall on the spectrum of drowning-related injuries, and the best way to prevent any kind of drowning is constant adult supervision while swimming.  I have written before about drowning prevention (you can click here to check out that blog post),  but close attention to a child while they are in the water and vigilance for new onset of symptoms after a swim are key.  And again remember, these dry or secondary drownings are NOT common.

So hopefully now that you understand these frightening terms of dry or secondary drowning, you will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this does not happen commonly.  Kiddos will be kiddos playing in the water which often means an inadvertent inward sniff while in the water.  Let them continue to play, of course under an adult’s watchful eye, and if something doesn’t seem right after pool time is done, then you know the next step.  Happy summer!

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Family Fun where local experts share their thoughts, and opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting, and living in Baton Rouge.

Ask the experts Baton Rouge Moms

Disclaimer: The purpose of this site is to share BRM moms’ experiences with food,  fitness, health and life as well as opinions from some of our local experts. This content is for informational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice.  When it comes to your health or the health of your child, please be sure to contact your physician.

Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Health, Moms Tagged With: Baton Rouge, baton rouge family friendly events, Baton Rouge Summer, dry drowning, Summer Saferty Tips, Summer safety

Summer Trauma Prevention

June 24, 2015 by Guest Contributor

“Ask the Experts” is a new series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts will share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness and parenting. If you have a question for one of our experts, please leave it in the comments below and they might just answer in an upcoming post.

Ask the Experts Baton Rouge

Summer Trauma Prevention

With summertime comes lots of sunshine, heat, and of course, sports! One of the biggest challenges with kids playing sports is keeping them safe. It is estimated that 30 million children in the US participate in organized sports programs. Sports accidents reportedly account for 10-39% of all dental injuries in children! Children are most susceptible to sports-related oral injury between the ages of 7 and 11 years. Those statistics are scary to me and they should be scary to all parents out there.

Pediatric Dentist Baton Rouge

Research has shown that wearing protective gear can greatly reduce the chance of injury to children and teens participating in sports-related activities. You might be surprised to learn that many organized sports do not require protective equipment for kids, even though they should. Popular sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball and gymnastics are some of the sports that are lagging in implementing required protective gear.

A properly fitted mouth guard is one of the most popular tools to help prevent sports-related injuries to the mouth and teeth. A mouth guard is a flexible device worn over teeth during athletic and recreational activities. Mouth guards act as shock absorbers to keep the mouth and jaws safe when a player is hit in the head or face. This helps protect against chipped or broken teeth, root and bone damage and tooth loss. They also safeguard against more serious injuries such as jaw fracture, cerebral hemorrhage, concussion and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw jams into the upper jaw.  

There are many types of mouth guards out there and choosing the right one is essential. The three main types are pre-made mouth guards, “boil & bite” mouth guards and custom mouth guards. At Ascension Children’s Dental, I typically recommend children use the boil and bite mouth guards when there is a mix of permanent and baby teeth. If all permanent teeth have erupted, then our orthodontist can create a custom fitted mouth guard.

To ensure your child is protected this summer, here are a few tips:

  • Ask your pediatric dentist for a properly fitted mouth guard
  • Ask your child’s coach if mouth guards are required. If not, find out what steps you can take to make it a requirement
  • Educate your child about the importance of wearing protective gear
  • If your child should suffer an injury to the mouth or teeth, seek immediate medical attention

For more information on mouth guards or if you have any questions, please visit www.ascensionsmiles.com or call me at (225) 402-4118.

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Filed Under: Ask the Expert, Health, Moms, Parenting Tagged With: Baton Rouge, dentist, Gonzales Dentist, Pediatirc Dentist, Summer, Summer safety

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