Dry and secondary drowning: Hidden threats for swimmers

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Tuesday, May 18, 2021
What is dry drowning?
What is dry drowning?Learn more about dry drowning and secondary drowning.

Dry and secondary drowning are potentially tragic medical emergencies that can occur even after a swimmer has left the water.

While symptoms of dry drowning typically occur right after a water incident, secondary drowning symptoms can appear hours after a near-drowning experience.

If your child has recently had a near-drowning experience or inhaled a large amount of water, doctors suggest watching them for the following signs:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Coughing
  • Sleepiness or a drop in energy level
  • Irritability
  • Chest pain
  • Vomiting

Be attentive to changes in behavior, which in some cases may appear as if the child is tired from a long day of swimming.

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