Secondary Drowning: Know the Signs

Back in 1999, we had a pool party for our daughter’s fifth birthday. And since there would be lots of little ones swimming in the shallow end of our backyard pool, we decided to hire a lifeguard to ensure a trained set of eyes were always on the water. Our daughter and a couple of her friends were already in the pool when the lifeguard arrived. It was then (before the hired help had the opportunity to step out of his street clothes) that our usually hesitant two-year-old son decided to jump in and join the girls.

He went straight to the bottom.

Fortunately, the lifeguard sprang into action (street clothes and all), rescuing our son and validating our decision to hire him. Aside from brief coughing and sputtering, our son was no worse for the wear.

As it turns out, the overwhelming majority (95%) of kids with a close call in the water do fine, but a few (5%) don’t. Those few may go on to develop “dry drowning” or “secondary drowning.” Knowing the signs and symptoms of these conditions—and what to do if problems occur—can mean the difference between life and death for kids who initially appear well after a brief struggle in the water.

Dry Drowning
Dry drowning occurs when water irritates the upper airway, causing the vocal cords to spasm (laryngospasm) and restricting flow of air into the lungs. This triggers a shock reflex called neurogenic pulmonary edema. The lungs begin to fill with body fluid (not pool water), which interferes with oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Oxygen is depleted, carbon dioxide builds up, the shock reflex strengthens, and a deadly spiral ensues. The symptoms of dry drowning usually begin within an hour of water exposure.

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