Dry drowning, delayed drowning, secondary drowning are myths
“Dry drowning,” “wet drowning,” “delayed drowning,” “secondary drowning,” and “near drowning,” are not medically accepted terms. The World Health Organization has declared that these terms should not be used by medical professionals or others, including the news media. These so-called conditions are social media myths.
Drowning happens when a person is submerged in liquid, inhales water, and cannot breathe air. The signs of drowning happen immediately. The person will have trouble breathing, excessive coughing, or foam in the mouth. Some people’s breathing difficulty may resolve rapidly, but for some, breathing difficulty can progressively get worse over the next few hours (up to 5-8 hours after having had trouble in the water).
No one who has drowned will be completely fine for several hours or days and then develop signs or symptoms of drowning. Symptoms of drowning do not go away and then return.
Anyone who has any of the following after a drowning episode should be evaluated by medical professionals: excessive coughing that does not stop; loss of consciousness even for a brief period; required rescue breathing or other breathing support; required cardiopulmonary resuscitation; continued chest pain or shortness of breath despite rest and treatment; confusion, really tired or not acting or behaving normally, or other unusual behavior.
Anyone who has these symptoms long after a drowning event should be evaluated by medical professionals for some other cause.
References:
Hawkins SC. ‘Dry drowning’and other myths. Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine. 2018 Jul;85(7):529.
Tobin JM, Rossano JW, Wernicki PG, Fielding R, Quan L, Markenson D. Dry drowning: A distinction without a difference. Resuscitation. 2017 Sep;118:e5.
Drowning happens when a person is submerged in liquid, inhales water, and cannot breathe air. The signs of drowning happen immediately. The person will have trouble breathing, excessive coughing, or foam in the mouth. Some people’s breathing difficulty may resolve rapidly, but for some, breathing difficulty can progressively get worse over the next few hours (up to 5-8 hours after having had trouble in the water).
No one who has drowned will be completely fine for several hours or days and then develop signs or symptoms of drowning. Symptoms of drowning do not go away and then return.
Anyone who has any of the following after a drowning episode should be evaluated by medical professionals: excessive coughing that does not stop; loss of consciousness even for a brief period; required rescue breathing or other breathing support; required cardiopulmonary resuscitation; continued chest pain or shortness of breath despite rest and treatment; confusion, really tired or not acting or behaving normally, or other unusual behavior.
Anyone who has these symptoms long after a drowning event should be evaluated by medical professionals for some other cause.
References:
Hawkins SC. ‘Dry drowning’and other myths. Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine. 2018 Jul;85(7):529.
Tobin JM, Rossano JW, Wernicki PG, Fielding R, Quan L, Markenson D. Dry drowning: A distinction without a difference. Resuscitation. 2017 Sep;118:e5.