If your child swims beware

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gooose53

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Aug 17, 2007
976
11
Not to scare anyone but this happened in my neighborhood this past Saturday....a 10 yr old boy drowned a number of hours after going home from the pool (called secondary drowning). Appears the boy swallowed a large amount of water. This secondary drowning occurs when water enters the lungs and washing out a liquid called surfactant, which keeps the airways open. This can happen upto 24 hours after ingesting the water. Please watch your children and be aware of any abnormal symtoms like difficulty in breathing or unusual sleepyness after swimming.
 
Thanks Goose!!!!! I have a 10 year old and he gets crazy in the pool! I'm sorry for your neighbors. They will be in our thoughts.
 
Most times it occurs shortly after a person nearly drowns but is taken out. They get enough water in the lungs that it reduces function, and I think gets continually worse. Not a worry if they are just swimming, I don't think. But, if you have to drag them out after sucking a lot of water, definitely keep an eye on them.
 
This was not the case with this little 10 yr old. They didn't have to drag him out nor did he nearly drown....he just ingested alot of water. I have 7 and 2 yr old grandkids and they stay in our pool all the time....I will be watching more closely from now on.
 
I can't speak from authority on it or anything, just from what a friend who is a navy rescue diver has told me. He indicated that near drowning is the way it normally happens. I'll have to ask him if he has ever heard of it from normal to heavy aspiration of water. Makes one wonder if they will find out the kid had an unknown lung problem anyway.

My condolences to the family, no matter the cause, loosing a child is heartbreaking.
 
i don't mean to sound insensitive, but the fact that no one has really heard of this probably means that this was a freak occurence and is highly unlikely
 
Your probably right that this doesn't occur very often.....but I don't want it happening to my grandkids or anyone else. I'm still going to keep a closer eye on my grandkids when they are over.
 
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