Every so often, you see the phrase “dry drowning” in the news or on social media, usually in a story about a person falling seriously ill or dying hours or sometimes days after being submerged in water. But: According to the World Health Organization and the American Red Cross, there is no evidence to support the condition “dry drowning.”
Drowning, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, is when breathing is impaired from submersion or immersion in liquid. The terms “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” have been used to describe when a person who seems to have recovered from being submerged in water suddenly deteriorates in the hours or days after the incident.
In fact, there are complications that can occur in the hours or days after a person is submerged in water that can be mistaken for dry drowning…
Aspiration pneumonia
The person may have inhaled water into the lungs and subsequently can develop this lung infection that can present with a fever, cough and shortness of breath. Aspiration pneumonia is treated by promptly seeing a health-care professional who will prescribe a course of antibiotics.
Consequences of hypoxia
Depending on the amount of time the person has been submerged, he/she may experience injuries due to a lack of oxygen that can in turn lead to brain injury, cardiac arrest or death. With certain brain injuries, it may take time to notice the symptoms…cardiac arrest can be more immediate.
Underlying health problems
In some cases, the physiological stress of the immersion may exacerbate the person’s existing or even undiagnosed health problems.
What to watch out for
After a person has been submerged in water, monitor his symptoms closely. If a cough develops or he has breathing difficulty, confusion, extreme lethargy or other concerning symptoms at any time, seek medical attention. And if that person has underlying medical conditions, particularly lung or heart conditions, he should see his health-care provider.
Reminder—prevention is key
Drowning is among the top three causes of accidental death in children in the UK, Australia and the US. To reduce risk for both adults and children…
- Fence in pools. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages layers of protection to prevent drowning. Pools should have fencing on all four sides along with a self-latching gate.
- Teach children to swim. Lessons can be started as soon as children reach one year of age.
- Pay attention. Adults supervising children near water should avoid anything that might impair their concentration, including drinking alcohol or using their phones.
- Swim only where there are lifeguards present and there is water-safety equipment close at hand.
