Teen Drowning -- What Is It Like?

[amor_demi_alma]

Hi All

Comments

[amor_demi_alma]

Thanks! That should help.

[amor_demi_alma]

Thanks also for this. :D

[amor_demi_alma]

Thank you so much. This helps a lot.

[donutsweeper]

Being dragged under is very common for lifeguards. I was always taught various break-away and re-contain maneuvers. They started teaching the lifeguards specific maneuvers (and we had to practice them over and over a LOT) because there were several incidents over a few summers where the lifeguard died.

Coughing/vomiting up water is common. As is just chesty coughing in general. Confusion, being extra clingy or aloof, pushing away rescuers... all might be responses.

As for time spent thrashing, it all depends on how successful they are in actually keeping their head above water. Several minutes can be typical.

As for dying, secondary drowning is when you aspirate water (how it occurs in the body differs as to whether it's seawater or fresh water) but can certainly cause death later if untreated.

eta- try googling about lifeguarding and wrist-grip escape, rear head-hold escape, and/or front head-hold escape

[amor_demi_alma]

Thank you so much.

[amor_demi_alma]

Thanks for the Google terms. I didn't even think to look at it from that angle.

[uozaki]

Where in the US are they, and what time of year is it? You've already got some great answers, but the temperature of the water is also something to factor in - drowning in very cold water will not be the same as drowning in warm.

(This is also helping my research, as it turns out. Yay for other people's questions!)

[amor_demi_alma]

Ahhh I don't really know yet where it's going to take place. I'm generally not fussy about setting. I'm thinking summer weather, though.