[blparent] children drowning in shallow water

[Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)]

Yes, all of this.
Also, people get complacent, it's only  a couple of inches of water, I'll only be a second, I'll know if I need to grab him, things like that.


-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Erin Rumer
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2012 11:42 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] children drowning in shallow water

The reason they call it a silent killer is because unlike when we see people
drowning in the movies there isn't a bunch of splashing and flailing in the
water.  The child often times goes into a state of shock once they've
inhaled water and they don't have the muscle strength and control to lift
their heads out of the water when in that state of panic.  You can find lots
of info about this type of death on-line or if you talk with your local
police or fire department.  Tucson, AZ is a huge place for drownings because
of the warm weather and all the pools so I learned more about this topic
living there than I had ever before.  A lot of times kids drown at parties
where there are other noises going on so if there is an initial splash of
the child falling into the water, it's never heard.  Children have to be
taught how to hold their breath, it's not something that comes naturally, so
the first reflex often times after slipping into water is to take a deep
breath and that's when it gets so scary for kids.  Our son Dawson has had a
few ear infections that he was dealing with around a year but now that he
hasn't gotten one in a while my husband and I are wanting to get him into
swimming classes or at least start to teach him some basic safety techniques
when in water.  We have a pool where we are living so that will make it easy
to do.

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Tay Laurie
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2012 9:33 PM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: [blparent] children drowning in shallow water

Hi everyone,

Please note: in this post, I am not in any way attempting to be insensitive
to the feelings of any parent whose child has passed on in this or any
manner. If you feel I have been insensitive, or otherwise inappropriate, you
may contact me off-list.

Begin post

I know it's logical that of course littler ones are able to drown more
easily, but I'm not sure I can quite understand how it is a silent killer.
Is it because the respiratory system isn't developed enough yet to cough?
Because if so, then how can he or she cough up secretions? I'm not trying to
be gross, just trying to figure it out. I would think that once water
entered the hthroat, specifically the trachea (windpipe) the baby would lift
his or her head, especially if he or she is capable of doing so, say around
18 months of age, and would be able to cough it out, much like an
accidentally inhaled piece of food or sip of drink.
Am I just thinking about this all wrong?

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