About Dry Drowning

Dry drowning represents less than 15 percent of all drowning cases. That equates to about 500 people per year in the United States. The condition comes about whenever an individual cannot take in oxygen from the air. The condition is often brought about due to damage of the respiratory system, a change in the way body tissues take in and store oxygen, and unexpected paralysis of certain muscles. However, it can also occur from breathing in gases other than oxygen. Dry drowning has also been known to occur during a notorious form of torture known as waterboarding.

Time Frame

• It can take as long as 72 hours to exhibit the symptoms of dry drowning, so it can be extremely difficult to diagnose the condition even for those who are familiar with it.
  Typical symptoms of dry drowning include extreme fatigue as well as drastic changes in behavior. However, these can be difficult to diagnose if the individual has gone off alone, retired to bed for the day or otherwise blocked themselves off from those who might recognize differences in their personality.
  Additional symptoms, such as gasping for air, chest pain and turning blue, may not appear until just minutes before death takes place.

Effects

• When any foreign substance, including water, is inhaled, it can cause the larynx to spasm. That, in turn, may cause it to close itself off, making it impossible to draw in oxygen. This creates a vacuum inside the diaphragm area. As the individual struggles to breathe, the vacuum gets worse, leading to two conditions that occur almost simultaneously: hypoxia, where the inability to exhale carbon dioxide causes it to build up; and the heart slowly increases the amount of blood volume that is circulated throughout the heart.The increased blood volume cannot be properly handled within the organ, causing it to stretch out until it simply cannot handle the pressure. Combined together, these conditions will ultimately result in death.

Misconceptions

• Despite the term, many people assume that the individual must suffer a massive intake of water in order dry drown. In fact, many medical examiners report that there is little, if any, water found within the lungs of a victim of dry drowning. In fact, no matter what may have caused the larynx to close, the foreign body might not be easily found, even post mortem.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent dry drowning, it is best to hold the nose and keep the mouth closed whenever jumping or diving into water. This will help to prevent a sudden gush of water, no matter how small, racing into the lungs and causing the larynx to spasm. Proper equipment like nose plugs can also be helpful.
  If a person slips and falls or otherwise takes in water, they should be encouraged to cough in an attempt to dislodge excess water and clear the airways.

Warning

• Young children should be monitored at all times. They may jump or dive into water without giving it a second thought, which could result in the very real emergency situation. Educating children about proper water safety is a must for all responsible parents.