Instinctive drowning response

Last updated

The instinctive drowning response is an instinctive reaction that occurs in humans, particularly in non-swimmers, when close to drowning. It is focused on attempting to keep the mouth above water to the exclusion of useful effort to attract help or self rescue, and is often not recognized by onlookers. The reaction is characterized by lateral arm movements, a vertical posture, tilting back the head, and inability to keep the mouth above the water or talk. The suppression of rational behavior by panic can also endanger swimmers attempting to rescue the victim.

Contents

Description

While distress and panic may sometimes take place beforehand, drowning itself is quick and often silent. [1] [2] A person close to the point of drowning is unable to keep their mouth above water long enough to breathe properly and is unable to shout. Lacking air, their body cannot perform the voluntary efforts involved in waving or seeking attention. Involuntary actions operated by the autonomic nervous system involve lateral flapping or paddling with the arms to press them down into the water in the effort to raise the mouth long enough to breathe, and tilting the head back. As an instinctive reaction, this is not consciously mediated nor under conscious control.

The lack of leg movement, upright position, inability to talk or keep the mouth consistently above water, and (upon attempting to reach the victim) the absence of expected rescue-directed actions, are evidence of the condition.

Timing

The instinct takes place for typically no longer than the final 20–60 seconds during drowning and before sinking underwater. [3] In comparison, a person who can still shout and keep their mouth constantly above water may be in distress, but is not in immediate danger of drowning compared to a person unable to do so. [1]

Recognizing drowning

To an untrained observer, it may not be obvious that a drowning person is in distress. The victim may appear to be swimming safely, but the victim is actually within 20–60 seconds of sinking under the surface and thus dying. [3] They extend their arms laterally and press down on the water's surface in order to lift their mouth out of the water.

When their mouth is above the water, they quickly exhale and inhale instead of calling for help. Because of their arm movements and focus on lifting their mouth out of the water, they cannot wave, kick their feet, swim to a rescuer, or grasp a rope or other rescue equipment. They may be misunderstood as "playing in the water" by those unfamiliar with drowning, and other swimmers just meters away may not realize that an emergency is occurring.

Lifeguards and other persons trained in rescue learn to recognize a drowning person by watching for these instinctive actions. [4]

Danger to rescuer

Advice given to would-be rescuers of a drowning victim Proper Rescue Method.jpg
Advice given to would-be rescuers of a drowning victim
Rescuers using the "reach" method with a stick, to rescue a drowning dog. This approach is even more effective when rescuing people, who are able to hold onto the stick with their hands. Dog rescued from drowning - Eminonu (8393806857).jpg
Rescuers using the "reach" method with a stick, to rescue a drowning dog. This approach is even more effective when rescuing people, who are able to hold onto the stick with their hands.

In emergency situations in which lifeguards or other trained personnel are not present, it is advisable to reach for the victim from land with your hand or a long stick, row to them in a boat, or throw them a flotation device, but not to enter the water (often pithily summarised as "Reach or throw, don't go.") [5] During the phase of instinctive reaction to drowning, the victim will latch onto any nearby solid objects in attempts to get air, which can result in the drowning of a would-be rescuer. [6] This "aquatic victim-instead-of-rescuer scenario" is common [7] and killed 103 would-be rescuers in Australia between 1992 and 2010, and another 81 people in New Zealand between 1980 and 2012. [8] A study of drownings in Turkey found 88 cases in which 114 would-be rescuers drowned during their attempts to rescue a primary drowning victim. [9]

Research and discovery

The common drowning behaviors were identified by Frank Pia, based upon study of film footage of actual and near-drownings, and documented in his 1971 instructional film, On Drowning, and a 1974 paper, Observations on the drowning of nonswimmers. [10]

At the time, it was commonly believed that drowning involved agitated behaviors, although Pia cites an earlier (unspecified) 1966 paper as likewise observing that this was not necessarily the case.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming</span> Self propulsion of a person through water

Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water or other liquid, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that results in directional motion. Newborns can instinctively hold their breath underwater and exhibit rudimentary swimming movements as part of a survival reflex. Swimming requires endurance, skill, and efficient techniques to maximize speed and minimize energy consumption.

Treading water or water treading is what a swimmer can do while in a vertical position to keep their head above the surface of the water, while not providing sufficient directional thrust to overcome inertia and propel the swimmer in any specific direction. As it expends less energy than traditional strokes, it is often used by swimmers to rest in between periods of exertion without having to leave the water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drowning</span> Respiratory impairment caused by submersion in liquid

Drowning is a type of suffocation induced by the submersion of the mouth and nose in a liquid. Submersion injury refers to both drowning and near-miss incident. Most instances of fatal drowning occur alone or in situations where others present are either unaware of the victim's situation or unable to offer assistance. After successful resuscitation, drowning victims may experience breathing problems, confusion, or unconsciousness. Occasionally, victims may not begin experiencing these symptoms until several hours after they are rescued. An incident of drowning can also cause further complications for victims due to low body temperature, aspiration, or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rip current</span> Water current moving away from shore

A rip current is a specific type of water current that can occur near beaches where waves break. A rip is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water that moves directly away from the shore by cutting through the lines of breaking waves, like a river flowing out to sea. The force of the current in a rip is strongest and fastest next to the surface of the water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lifeguard</span> Profession

A lifeguard is a rescuer who supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, beach, spa, river and lake. Lifeguards are trained in swimming and CPR/AED first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on requirements of their particular venue. In some areas, lifeguards are part of the emergency services system to incidents and in some communities, lifeguards may function as the primary EMS provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rescue</span> Operations for life saving, removal from danger and liberation from restrain

Rescue comprises responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, removal from danger, liberation from restraint, or the urgent treatment of injuries after an incident. It may be facilitated by a range of tools and equipment necessary to deal with the specific circumstances.

Human swimming typically consists of repeating a specific body motion or swimming stroke to propel the body forward. There are many kinds of strokes, each defining a different swimming style or crawl.

Drowning detection systems are systems designed to improve safety by reducing drowning deaths and injuries in public and private pools, waterparks, thermal baths, spa facilities, beaches, or other natural bodies of water smart beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasserwacht</span> German lifeguard service

The Wasserwacht is a German lifeguard service. It is one of the five voluntary societies of the German Red Cross. The Wasserwacht is a non-profit organization made up of on volunteers.

Francesco "Frank" Pia is an American lifeguard, recognized in the field for his research and training on ways to rescue people in trouble in the water. He is best known for:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal flotation device</span> Equipment to help the wearer keep afloat in water

A personal flotation device is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suit that is worn by a user to prevent the wearer from drowning in a body of water. The device will keep the wearer afloat with their head and mouth above the surface – they do not have to swim or tread water in order to stay afloat and can even be unconscious.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huntington State Beach</span> Protected beach in Southern California

Huntington State Beach is a protected beach in Southern California, located in the City of Huntington Beach in Orange County. It extends 2 miles (3.2 km) from Newport Beach north to Beach Boulevard, where the Huntington City Beach begins. The 121-acre (49 ha) park was established in 1942.

Action Park was an amusement and water park located in Vernon Township, New Jersey, United States, on the grounds of the Vernon Valley/Great Gorge ski resort. The park consisted primarily of water-based attractions and originally opened to the public in 1978, under the ownership of Great American Recreation (GAR).

Freediving blackout, breath-hold blackout, or apnea blackout is a class of hypoxic blackout, a loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive, when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other obvious medical condition that might have caused it. It can be provoked by hyperventilating just before a dive, or as a consequence of the pressure reduction on ascent, or a combination of these. Victims are often established practitioners of breath-hold diving, are fit, strong swimmers and have not experienced problems before. Blackout may also be referred to as a syncope or fainting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming lessons</span> Teaching swimming

Swimming lessons are the process of learning to swim. In most countries there is a definition of a number of swimming levels that are reached in the process of the curriculum. The respective certificates of swimming tests are required for further training in aquatic abilities. Many countries have defined a minimum swimming level that children should reach by the end of primary education, in most cases with the help of school swimming classes being part of the normal curriculum.

National Water Life Saving Association (NWLSA), also known as Chinese Taipei Water Life Saving Association (CTWLSA), is the major lifesaving organization in Taiwan. The organization's members are mainly volunteer lifesavers, police officers, firefighters and civilians who are enthusiastic about water sports, water safety awareness and water rescue events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German rescue swimming badge</span> Award

The German rescue swimming badge is awarded by the Wasserwacht of the German Red Cross, the DLRG and the ASB for proficiency in rescue swimming skills. The German rescue swimming badge is awarded in bronze, silver, and in gold. The awards is available as a cloth patch, as a metal badge, or as a ribbon. The rescue swimming badges in silver and gold are permitted to be worn on uniforms of the Bundeswehr, the German Police and various rescue services as a ribbon. It is also an entry-requirement for some German Police agencies.

Water safety refers to the procedures, precautions and policies associated with safety in, on, and around bodies of water, where there is a risk of injury or drowning. It has applications in several occupations, sports and recreational activities.

The International Surf Lifesaving Association (ISLA) is a nonprofit organization that advances professional lifesaving development to areas in need around the globe. ISLA uses latest technology to identify areas in need. ISLA advances development through lifeguard training programs and aquatic rescue operation consults, lifeguard exchanges, equipment donations, and by integrating with drowning prevention organizations to share information, techniques, stories, and culture.

SV Nominoé was a French sailing ship that ran aground near Blankenberge, Belgium during a violent storm while she was travelling from London, United Kingdom to Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom with a cargo of asphalt.

References

  1. 1 2 O'Connell, Claire (2010-08-03). "What stops people shouting and waving when drowning?". Irish Times . Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  2. ↑ Vittone, Mario. "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning" . Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  3. 1 2 American Red Cross (1995). "Chapter 5". Lifeguarding today. Mosby Lifeline. p. 57. ISBN   9780801675553.
  4. ↑ "Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning — Foster Community Online". Foster.vic.au. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  5. ↑ "Reach or Throw, Don't Go" (PDF). American Red Cross .
  6. ↑ Rowan, Karen (14 August 2010). "Why do people often drown together?". Live Science . Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Franklin, Richard; Pearn, John (26 October 2010). "Drowning for love: the aquatic victim-instead-of-rescuer syndrome: drowning fatalities involving those attempting to rescue a child" (PDF). Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health . 47 (1–2): 44–47. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2010.01889.x. PMID   20973865. S2CID   205470277.
  8. ↑ Starrenburg, Caleb (5 January 2014). "Would-be rescuers losing their lives". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Turgut, Adnan; Turgut, Tevfik (18 May 2012). "A study on rescuer drowning and multiple drowning incidents". Journal of Safety Research . 43 (2): 129–132. doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2012.05.001. PMID   22709998.
  10. ↑ Pia, Frank (July–August 1974). "Observations on the drowning of nonswimmers". Journal of Physical Education: 164–167, 181. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2010-12-30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.