The recent death of a boy after swimming and returning home has become a topic of discussion. The biggest question is how someone can die at home after seemingly being fine after swimming. Let's take a look at the true cause of drowning in bed after swimming.
Causes of Drowning in Bed after Swimming
Drowning in bed after swimming is caused by water entering the lungs during swimming. Initially, this does not affect daily activities. However, as time passes, the lungs are increasingly affected, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, coughing, sore throat, and difficulty breathing. Strange behavior may also occur, eventually resulting in foaming at the mouth and death. This is medically referred to as "dry drowning."
What is Dry Drowning?
There are multiple explanations for dry drowning. One explanation is that the drowning victim experiences reflexive laryngeal and bronchial spasms due to cold water stimulation and extreme panic, leading to suffocation and death without water accumulating in the lungs.
Another explanation is that a small amount of water enters the lungs, posing no immediate danger, but death occurs within a few hours after exiting the water.
Who is at Risk of Dry Drowning?
Certain individuals are more susceptible to dry drowning, such as those with allergies, children under the age of 5, individuals with poor physical condition, and those sensitive to sudden stimuli.
In addition to swimming, dry drowning can also occur in patients during medication or treatment processes, such as during anesthesia for surgery or during gastroscopy.
How to Prevent Dry Drowning
It is important to avoid sudden pushes into the water, horseplay or roughhousing in the water, pushing down or attacking companions, and allowing children to jump into the water without caution.
When children are swimming, it is crucial to constantly monitor for any abnormal conditions, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue (excessive sleepiness, difficulty waking up, sudden oxygen deprivation), coughing, sore throat, or unusual behavior.
First Aid for Dry Drowning
If a child is suspected of dry drowning, immediate first aid measures should be taken. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be administered immediately, and unlike in regular drowning cases, it is necessary to immediately perform artificial respiration, open the airway, and then perform external chest compressions. If the drowning victim has no heartbeat, chest compressions should be initiated first, followed by immediate medical attention. Do not miss the golden opportunity to save a life.
