Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning (A Must Read)

[JoeRedskin]

Excellent article FD. Just had this experience with my son yesterday - he exhibited all of those "non-TV" symptoms. He is very new to swimming and has a phobia about water. He tried to get to me in water that was slightly over his head, slipped and started to panic. I was only two feet away and got him so it was no big deal - His heart was going a mile a minute though.

Honestly, I didn't recognize his actions as this "Instinctive Drowning Response" until reading the article, but it describes exactly what he was doing - Head low in the water; mouth at water level; head tilted back with mouth open; eyes glassy and empty; unable to focus; hyperventilating or gasping; and trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway.

Excellent article and damn helpful. Absolutely one of the most useful things I have ever read on Warpath.

Thank you.