Secondary drowning – what is it? Causes, symptoms, first aid, prevention

Secondary drowning is called the silent killer by many. It occurs despite the fact that there is no indication and the situation seems to be under control. Typically secondary drowning occurs up to 72 hours after a water mishap. But how does this actually happen? Why, despite being rescued, does secondary drowning take its toll? What is the probability of secondary drowning?

1. Secondary drowning usually happens to the youngest
2. As much as 5 percent reports constitute secondary drowning
3. Doctors call secondary drowning a complication after the drowning process
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

What is secondary drowning?

Secondary drowning is nothing more than a flooding complication in which you choke on water. The summer period is a time of increased bathing in water, and thus – greater likelihood of maritime accidents.

It is enough for even a minimal amount of liquid to enter the lungs in one incident, and this can cause pulmonary edema. During this process, the basic vital activity of breathing is disturbed. The lungs are responsible for taking oxygen and then transporting it into the bloodstream. Pulmonary edema directly affects this function, leading to a threat to life and health.

Secondary Drowning – When Can It Happen?

It is worth remembering that although secondary drowning is not the rule, the person who has experienced a water accident should be closely monitored. The first 72 hours are the most important. It is at this time that you may experience symptoms that indicate that something is wrong with your body.

The greatest probability of secondary drowning occurs after flooding in salt water. Despite coughing up the water, salt still remains in the lungs, which also causes dangerous swelling. Secondary drowning can occur:

1. while bathing in various types of water reservoirs – both with salt and fresh water,
2. while practicing water sports,
3. while bathing in the tub (especially for small children),
4. the moment you choke on a drink.

Check: The dangers lurking in the water

Symptoms of secondary drowning

In the case of secondary drowning, time is of the essence. The first symptoms may appear 15 minutes after choking with water. The faster the reaction, the greater the likelihood of a full recovery. That is why it is very important to observe the injured person. The most common symptoms of secondary drowning are:

1. tiring cough (most troublesome is lying down),
2. difficulty breathing, inability to take a full breath,
3. tiredness,
4. general weakness
5. slurred speech, 
6. somnolence,
7. dizziness,
8. nausea and vomiting.

When the first symptoms appear, you should immediately see a doctor, as this condition may worsen and the weakness of the body may progress. With young children, careful observation is key as they may not realize that something disturbing is going on in their bodies and it is up to the adult to react quickly. Typically, a child who shows signs of secondary drowning is very lethargic and has trouble concentrating.

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First aid for secondary drowning

First aid is extremely important and it depends on how a person who has experienced choking will go through the entire process of secondary drowning. Rescue can be divided into that immediately after choking and when the first signs of weakness appear.

If a child chokes while bathing, or even after drinking water, make sure that all the contents are choked out or swallowed by the toddler. In extreme cases, set them in a position where the head is lower than the torso and strike the area between the shoulder blades with moderate force.. This method makes it easier to get rid of unwanted items and excess water.

However, when the first symptoms of secondary drowning appear, the most important activity is notifying the emergency services or taking the patient to a specialist. Only a doctor can diagnose secondary drowning and implement treatment that will restore normal life functions.

Secondary drowning and pulmonary edema

Pulmonary edema may be a consequence of water aspiration. In the case of secondary drowning, there is swelling in the lungs or there is water left in the lungs. Both variants are extremely dangerous to human life and health. As the swelling increases, the body becomes more and more hypoxic, which does not allow the proper functioning of basic life functions. How to recognize increasing pulmonary edema? Here are some symptoms:

1. severe breathlessness, inability to catch breath,
2. wheezing
3. initially dry cough, later with discharge,
4. pale skin,
5. sinica, 
6. excessive sweating.

Pulmonary edema is fatal if not treated in time, because your circulation may stop. The main aim of your treatment will be to improve the oxygenation of your bloodstream. Extremely often, as part of such therapy, an oxygen mask is used, as well as intubation.

Also read: Child resuscitation

Secondary drowning – how to prevent it?

Despite the fact that secondary drowning is very dangerous, it is quite easy to prevent this from happening. In the case of a child, it should be observed primarily while bathing. Although the least frequent flooding occurs when the child is completely submerged under water, more often water may enter the esophagus during play. The most important thing is to keep an eye on your eyes and set safe limits.

As for an adult, it is worth considering whether it is safe before undertaking any aquatic activity. When undertaking water sports, listen to the instructors who are responsible for the health and life of the students. They know very well how to prevent accidents. You should also avoid open, unguarded water reservoirs. You never know what’s lurking at the bottom and how deep the water is.

In addition, alcohol is another factor that reduces vigilance and pushes you to more and more bolder challenges, which is why entering the water after drinking alcohol is not allowed. Later, it is difficult to distinguish the first symptoms of secondary drowning from strong intoxication, and the victim may be so anesthetized that he will not be able to report to third parties that something disturbing is happening to him.

Secondary drowning and dry drowning

Unfortunately, next to secondary drowning there is also dry drowning. Both processes are extremely dangerous and develop as a result of choking with water. The only difference is that during dry drowning, the muscles of the larynx are constricted, which leads to hypoxia and, at a later stage, death. This process develops a little faster as the first symptoms can appear up to 24 hours and can happen even after you swallow your saliva incorrectly. It should be emphasized that in both cases medical intervention is necessary.

What are the complications of secondary drowning?

Rescued from secondary drowning, the patient may later struggle with a number of ailments, which, however, should gradually subside over time. These include:

1. pneumonia,
2. tiredness, 
3. chest pains,
4. worse well-being.

Treatment of secondary drowning should take place in a hospital setting. How long a patient will be hospitalized depends on the individual condition. Usually this period does not exceed 7 days.

Check also: Aspiration pneumonia in children

Myths about secondary drowning

There have also been many false theories about secondary drowning that have been circulating among the public for years.

1. Professional swimmers are not exposed to secondary drowning – not true, especially open water reservoirs can be unpredictable and even the best swimmer may find himself in a life-threatening situation.
2. Women sink statistically more than men – in fact more than half of deaths by drowning are men. This may be because they are more capable of taking risks and overestimating their abilities.
3. Inflatable accessories ensure the safety of a swimming child – this is also a myth. Choking with water usually occurs while playing, therefore the mentioned gadgets play a negligible role here.

Second drowning can catch anyone. It is such a dangerous process that it cannot be underestimated at all, because it often ends in death. In order to minimize the risk of secondary drowning as much as possible, you should first of all follow the safety rules at a given bathing site and pay a lot of attention to children who, due to little life experience, are not able to recognize the threat that awaits them. Once secondary drowning occurs, time and a quick response from a specialist are of the utmost importance. Appropriate action guarantees that the patient will fully recover.