Ten Year Old Boy Dies From "Dry Drowning"
Posted by
Drew DixonJune 09, 2008 11:18 AMTags:
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“Dry Drowning” is one more concern parents should have this summer as they take their children to swim. While it may sound impossible, the recent death of a 10 year old boy in South Carolina has doctors warning parents of such a danger.
Dry drowning occurs when a person’s lungs become unable to extract oxygen from the air, due primarily to:
§ Muscular paralysis
§ Puncture wound to torso (affecting ability of diaphragm to create respiratory movement)
§ Changes to oxygen-absorbing tissues
§ Persistence of laryngospasm when immersed in fluid
§ Breathing another gas besides oxygen too long (e.g. Helium)
However, the most common way in which “dry drowning” occurs is when a small amount of water is aspirated into the lungs. The water causes damage to the lungs and decreases the amount of oxygen flow in the blood. Thus, a person may effectively drown without being immersed in fluid. The laryngospasm reflex essentially causes asphyxiation and neurogenic pulmonary edema.
Some common signs of “dry drowning” include: difficulty breathing, extreme tiredness, and uncommon behavior.
IMAGE SOURCE: Wikimedia Commons