Slate: Drowning doesn't look like drowning

[chrpai]

This is an article that talks about a near miss so this is the best place I can think to put it.

As a father of an 8 and 10 year old, a rescue diver and a person who generally cares a lot about the safety of those around me, I think this is a must read.

Rescuing drowning children: How to know when someone is in trouble in the water. - Slate Magazine

 

[koozemani]

Thanks for posting this, I too have an 8 and 10 year old.

 

[chrpai]

I had a close call with my youngest when she was 2 y/o. We had got to the pool and was setting up our chairs putting on sun tan lotion and what not when I looked around and was like "Emma!?!?".

I quickly looked in the pool to rule that out first and I saw her. She was hovering vertical, motionless. I jumped in, grabbed her, and lifted her as fast as I could. As soon as her head broke the surface she took a deep breath and started crying.

That was a bad daddy day. But the article is right, drowning doesn't look like drowning.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Chrpai . . . My heart sped up you probably still shiver send then hold her close.

Thanks for this article. I'll be passing it on too.

 

[TONY CHANEY]

I remember reading that before but thanks for posting it. I really needed the refresher. Saved a friend once and outside of him mouthing a very very weak, "help me," he presented just like the person in the article. I also have an 8 and a 10 yo and have a pool. My advice is to teach and I mean really teach then to get on their back if anything goes wrong. I has already paid off when I think the girls were 6 and 4. Little one slipped into the pool just as the wife was walking to the door to get something. She got on her back and older sister got the long pool sweeper and assisted in pulling her to the side. When I got home from work and heard the story my heart did some extra beats...thinking V-fib. Damn that was too close but very happy that they used what they were taught. Even today I make them do the get onto your back drills. On your back you can breathe, your face is out of the water, you can yell, almost no effort is needed to stay afloat and you still can wave your arms. No other way gives you these options.

 

[kelemvor]

I learned something today, thanks!

 

[Darren Dodge]

Great article..I immediately shared it on Facebook. Thanks for that one!

 

[pjhansman]

This article made the rounds last year....and it definitely worth posting again.

At work I've presented it several times at safety meetings.

 

[boulderjohn]

It is interesting how this keeps getting reprinted over the years. It's still good information. I added it to the Rescue Diver course after I read it a few years ago.

 

[neonstingray]

Thanks for the article.