What is dry drowning? What to do when a child is dry drowning?

The phrase “dry drowning” may be unfamiliar to many people, but in fact this is a very dangerous and common condition in children. Today, let’s find out with lassho.edu.vn in consultation with Master, Doctor Phan Ngoc Toan – Emergency Medicine Doctor – Emergency Resuscitation Department – Vinmec Danang International General Hospital!

What is dry drowning?

According to medical experts, “drowning” is a condition in which it is difficult to breathe after water enters the airways. It happens while swimming or showering or simply getting liquid in the mouth. If help is not given in an emergency breathing situation, it can lead to death.

The terms “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” indicate rare complications that you should be aware of. With “dry drowning”, you should understand that water never reaches the lungs. Instead, breathing in water causes the baby’s vocal cords to constrict and close, leading to difficulty breathing . Those signs will manifest symptoms immediately as in the situation of a foreign object entering the airway.

“Secondary drowning” is another term people use to describe another drowning complication. It occurs if water enters the lungs, irritating the lining of the lungs, and fluid can build up, causing a condition called pulmonary edema. You may notice your baby having difficulty breathing right away, and this may get worse over the next 24 hours.

What is dry drowning?

Signs and symptoms of dry drowning

Because the baby is still small and can’t know how his body is going, so, within 1 hour after the child is out of the water area, parents should carefully observe the child’s expressions to see if there are any signs of bleeding. showing signs and symptoms of dry drowning . Symptoms of dry drowning babies are:

• The larynx is constricted
• Cough
• Chest tightness
• Dizzy
• Shortness of breath
• Extremely tired body
• Asleep
• Dizzy
• Difficulty talking
• Dreamy, not awake
• Foam appears in the mouth or nose
• Changes in behavior, irritability or decreased energy due to the brain not getting enough oxygen

Signs and symptoms of dry drowning

What to do when a child is dry drowning?

When you discover anything unusual , seek medical help immediately. This is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

In some cases, the signs and symptoms of dry drowning can go away on their own, but don’t let it be ignored. Parents should check and closely observe their children’s expressions within 24 hours to avoid unfortunate situations.

When symptoms do not seem to go away but worsen, help your child stay calm and then take him to the emergency room immediately. At this time, the doctor will have the child take a chest X-ray and perform other diagnostic tests to check the child’s airway, heart rate, oxygen levels, and body temperature.

If the life-sustaining functions of the body are gradually returning to normal, the child will continue to be monitored in the hospital for 4 to 6 hours before fully stabilizing.

What to do when a child is dry drowning?

How to prevent dry drowning

To prevent dry drowning, parents should note:

• Always observe and monitor closely when children are in water
• Never let children swim or bathe alone
• Children are only allowed to swim in lifeguarded areas
• Equip yourself with life-saving items such as life jackets for both yourself and children when crossing the river
• For children to attend more classes on water safety skills or parents can participate in training programs to ensure safety for children from 6 months to 3 years old when coming into contact with water.
• If your family has young children, it is advisable to build a fence in the area with the pool at home to prevent children from drowning in wet or dry water.
• Take classes that teach drowning first aid, such as CPR

How to prevent dry drowning

Above is information related to dry drowning that lassho.edu.vn has compiled. In dangerous situations, parents or relatives need to give first aid to a drowning child properly and quickly take the child to the hospital for timely treatment by doctors.

Source: Vinmec

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