We often hear about “dry drowning,” a phrase that sends shivers down our spines. This alarming notion stems from the belief that drowning is only a matter of being submerged in water and then rescued. What many don’t realize is that the dangers may linger even after leaving the water. Recently, I’ve felt compelled to share a personal experience involving my son, which highlights the risks associated with secondary drowning.
It was Mother’s Day in 2015 when we decided to spend the day at the beach. My son, who hadn’t yet learned to swim, stayed close to the shore with my husband, playing in the shallow water and collecting seashells. My husband held his hand the entire time, ensuring he was safe. I opted to stay on the sand, enjoying the sun and reading a magazine, savoring what I thought was one of my best Mother’s Days.
At one point, I went to retrieve something from the car. Upon my return, I noticed my son coughing. When I asked what had happened, he explained that a small wave had knocked him over. I inquired if he had swallowed any water, and he replied, “Just a little.” He then dashed off to continue playing, and I brushed the incident off as minor.
About ten minutes later, as we prepared to head home, I noticed his face had turned quite red. Initially, I attributed this to my oversight with sunscreen. We are fair-skinned, so a sunburn wasn’t unusual. However, as we drove down the highway, my son began expressing extreme fatigue, struggling to keep his eyes open. His cries of discomfort were alarming, as he typically fell asleep easily.
As time passed, his behavior became increasingly erratic. He started recounting nonsensical stories from two years prior and seemed to be hallucinating. Panic set in, and I urged my husband to find a hospital immediately. I couldn’t shake the memories of a haunting article I had read about dry drowning, where a child went to sleep and never woke up.
My husband attempted to calm me down, suggesting he might just be exhausted or overheated. While these points were valid, they didn’t align with my son’s unusual state. Something felt off, and I followed my maternal instinct, insisting we go to the ER.
The drive felt interminable as I fought to keep my son awake. We finally located a nearby emergency room and rushed him inside. The medical staff quickly assessed him, revealing a high fever of 105 degrees and low oxygen levels. A chest X-ray showed alarming fluid in his lungs. The doctors were perplexed by how quickly he had succumbed to this illness.
They treated him promptly, administering fever-reducing medication, breathing treatments, and oxygen. Thankfully, after about thirty minutes, he began to improve. The diagnosis was secondary drowning, caused by water inhalation that led to an inflammatory response. The doctor mentioned it was fortunate I had brought him in when I did.
By the end of our ER visit, my son had returned to his cheerful self, but I stayed up all night monitoring his breathing. The entire ordeal was terrifying and has left a lasting impression on me. It’s essential to understand that children often swallow water while playing, and they usually recover without incident. Just a day before, my son had ingested a significant amount of water and was fine.
Secondary drowning occurs when even a small amount of water in the lungs inhibits proper oxygenation. In many cases, this fluid resolves on its own, often without any noticeable symptoms. However, it can escalate into a serious situation.
I want to emphasize that I’m not a medical professional; I can only share our experience and what transpired leading to my son’s diagnosis. For further information on secondary drowning and to identify signs in children, resources such as Kindbody’s blog are excellent, and I encourage you to familiarize yourself with them.
Despite the rarity of such incidents, it’s crucial to remain vigilant when supervising children. Always trust your instincts. If you’re interested in learning about home insemination, you can check out our artificial insemination kit for more information, or explore the Impregnator at home insemination kit for additional insights.
In summary, while my experience was alarming, it serves as a reminder of the importance of awareness and attentiveness as parents. I have become more vigilant around water, and although I may loosen my watchful eye as my son grows older, I will continue to prioritize his safety.
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