Drowning Symptoms

Drowning is a silent killer. People who are drowning may not be able to call for help because they are expending all their energy to breathe or to keep their head above water. Furthermore, as water is introduced into the respiratory tract, the airway may go into a spasm, making it difficult to cry for help.

Be alert for signs that someone may be in trouble.

• A person in the water flailing his or her arms
  
  
• Displaying uneven swimming motions
  
  
• Lying face down in the water
  
  
• Only the head showing above water with mouth open
  

The drowning sequence

• First, the person panics or struggles followed by submersion with breath-holding.
  
  
• Loss of consciousness can begin within three minutes of being under water.
  
  
• The brain may suffer damage if it is deprived of oxygen for more than six minutes.
  
  
• The heart may go into an irregular rhythm that doesn't allow the heart to pump blood, if it too is deprived of oxygen for more than a few minutes.
  

Signs of drowning

• Bluish or pale skin of the face and lips
  
  
• Cough with clear to frothy pink sputum
  
  
• Decreased consciousness or loss of consciousness
  
  
• Labored or no breathing
  
  
• Weak or no heartbeat