Drowning looks different than you think

Don't assume that the kiddie pool is safe. My two-year-old daughter had just gotten in, I turned around to put the towels on the chairs and when I turned around she was floating face down in a few inches of water. I jumped right in and scooped her up and she was OK, thank God.

When I was about 4 years old, my twin and I were running around the Apartment complex pool and I fell in, I remember struggling and looking at the sun through the water hoping in some way I could reach it. As much as I struggled, It was quiet and everything went black. Luckily enough I was rescued because my brother knew something was wrong. As children, especially as children, we know no way of reaction to danger in water or much of the dangers that are unknown to us. If it was not for my brother I would be dead today.

Keep on eye on your children always, they are fragile, unknowing to the worlds dangers. Unless you teach them correctly, they will be burned in more ways then touching a stove.

When I was about 4 years old, my twin and I were running around the Apartment complex pool and I fell in, I remember struggling and looking at the sun through the water hoping in some way I could reach it. As much as I struggled, It was quiet and everything went black. Luckily enough I was rescued because my brother knew something was wrong. As children, especially as children, we know no way of reaction to danger in water or much of the dangers that are unknown to us. If it was not for my brother I would be dead today.

Keep on eye on your children always, they are fragile, unknowing to the worlds dangers. Unless you teach them correctly, they will be burned in more ways then touching a stove.

When I was in the 9th grade, a classmate of mine was swimming and diving. He dove from the diving board into an innertube, caught his neck on the tube, and ended up as a quadrapalegic. I watch the show "Wipeout" and am amazed that the contestants are willing to subject themselves to the potential for injury. I assume contestants must sign some iron-clad waiver in order to participate. I wonder what the story is: Has anyone been seriously injured?

Freakish accidents occur all the time. A co-worker fell out of bed, landed on his back and ended up in a wheel-chair. The father of another co-worker lost his balance and fell the wrong way against a mantle, and ended up paralyzed.

I guess I sound like gloom and doom. These accidents are extremely rare, but they do occur.

I had a near-drowning incident as a child and this article describes it exactly. My friend challenged me to jump off the end of her dock into the lake. She said she would be there to help me if needed and I knew she was an expert swimmer. After I jumped in, I saw that she had turned and was walking back to the shore as I was drowning. I do recall that I did not wave my arms or yell for her. Fortunately, she turned and came back to extend a hand to me which I grabbed after going under a few times and swallowing water.

So, you are saying that when I was underwater stuck by a person holding on to me and I needed help and I was moving my arms to push her away kicking my feet and holding my breath, then probably fainted then probably opened my mouth gulping in water that I was not drowning. What is that? The life guard had to revive me, no I wasn't drowned yet, but I was drowning and I knew what I was doing. This column writer wasn't there when I was drowning. So, I have to correct this mis-conception about how a drowning person acts. Or, perhaps I am the only one kicking and trying to get up for air!

Hobbit, I couldn't agree with you more. It is a terrifying experience that stays with you for life if you ever experienced a drowning incident. When I was off at day camp as a child, the counselors were too busy "making out" to tell us not to just walk into the center of the p ool. It graduated, however, at 7 years old, you don't know exactly what that means. I suddenly did not feel my feet touching the ground, and there was nothing buoying me up. I couldn't swim at all, and I grabbed a girl who was walking next to me, in a desperate attempt to get back out of the water. She started screaming because I was pulling her down with me,and then someone jumped in to pull us to the edge of the pool. As if that wasn't enough, each day the counselors would terrify us. We had red, blue and white cap swimmers. The red were the ones who couldn't swim at all. They would pick one of us and pull us to the middle of the pool and deliberately hold our heads under water to see if we could survive. Needless to say, I would conveniently tell the counselors I had to go to the bathroom when they staged this so I wouldn't be picked. I was still traumatized from the experience of nearly drowning. I didn't tell my mom, because I loved camp and wanted the experience - everything but the swimming. It was a day camp so we were home by 4 daily.

The worst part came for me when we were in another pool at this camp, and they pulled a little boy out, age 6, and they put him on the cement next to the pool. Instead of pulling all of us away, they let us watch as water came out of his mouth, and his eyes rolled back in his head. I remember seeing what looked like clips in his mouth, and he died right in front of us. He had reached into the filter of the pool to try and get a dollar bill that was somehow lodged in it. His story made the Daily News in NY, and I remember telling my mother all the other horrible incidents that happened, and I begged her to write a note that neither I or my brother, also age 6 like the boy who drowned, be excused from all swimming activities.

I lecture my 15 year old to be so vigilant when in ocean water because of the ledges and tides, and to always ask a lifeguard if the water is safe (i.e. jellyfish, sharks, etc.) or if it has red tide or undertow. Water is very unforgiving even for the best of swimmers. Remember JFK, Jr? He was an incredible swimmer, kayaker, all around athlete, and although the impact of his plane crash in all likelihood killed him, I don't think he would have survived the choppy night waters.

I am in my 50's now, and I still can't take a shower without hyperventilating. I hate flying over water whenever I have to travel, especially at night. I can't remember half the time what I ate for breakfast, but I do remember that drowning experience as well as the little boy's face and name who died in front of me the summer of 1962 - RIP George Gladsky.

I love to read these postings but are wondering why everything has to be turned to something political dem-vote. You know if you can contribute to the articles and post something helpful by all means do. If you want to use every article to give your political view get a life.

About water safety... we often went to Jone's Beach in New York, which is exposed to the ocean and has strong surf. We were usually several families with lots of young cousins playing in the water; often a dozen young kids would be in the water at one time. Someone was always posted to sit near the water's edge and watch the swimmers, usually an adult, but also some of the older kids. I was a strong swimmer and often had this duty. The technique I was taught was to look at the people in the water and shift my attention from one to another in turn, watch long enough to identify the person, then look for the next one in turn, going trom one to another until all were seen, then starting over. That way, no one escaped attention. Since I knew them all, this was easy to do and not boring. Sometimes two or three people young people did it together, in conversation with each other while keeping watch. It was never boring. Someetimes one of the swimmers seemed to be missing and we would come to full alert until he was spotted and seen to be OK. If someone seemed to be tiring or was too cold, we hauled him out for a rest. The watcher remained "on duty" until relieved, just like the Army. I never thought much about it until I had some military experience and later, kids of my own. Then I truly appreciated the complexity of the system and the security it provided. We never had a single problem or close call.

One of my biggest fears! So terrible. So many kids drown on school trips too. No one will watch your kids the way you will. PrestonB added some really good info! Be in the water with them or at the water's edge - if you have to leave the area (like little ducks) they have to come out and follow.

What a great article! My 7 year old began swim lessons this summer; and this is invaluable information.

What a dangerously misleading article. Dr. Pia and whomever wrote this article should be more careful when presenting information like this. The fact is drowning looks like a lot of things. The stereotypical drowning victim that they describe in this article as false is actually something that we lifeguards see everyday at beaches and pools. While I agree that it is not always the stereotype and that you need also to be aware of Dr. Pia's findings, I found this article trying to convince the reader that the stereotype is completely wrong and that Dr. Pia's way is the only way... of course this is not the case. Don't write off the stereotype and do incorporate Dr. Pia's findings into your definition of drowning. So many articles want the reader to believe that the right way is now the wrong way. In this case, however, the right way is now neighbors with another right way.

Be careful, readers!!

When I was five, my parents were in a pool that my grandmother owned, and they were watching my little brother, who was two. I was crawling around the sides of the pool, even though i was unable to swim. Ironically, when i got as far away from them as i could, i slipped off the side and fell into the water. Nobody noticed that i was in the water until i was completely submerged and almost passed out. That is the only memory i have of being younger than 7

Thank you for this valuable educational information. All parents must know this.

"Reach or Throw, Don't Go!"

Don't get too close, or they will climb you like a Christmas tree. Throw them a line and get close enough to be sure they take it. If they do grab you and try to climb, dive down under the water to get free.

As a teen, I was a trained life guard, and my son (5) almost drowned me when he panicked. He was <1/3 my weight, and was wearing a life preserver.

Please, let's avoid another story where the "rescuer" becomes the victim!

very informative info..

I once saved a little girl, probably around six years old at a hotel pool. There were many people in the pool as well as the girls parents. She did exactly as the article states. When I got her out and told her parents about what just happened, they quickly snatched her away from me and then got upset with me. They said something to the effect of " dont you think we're watching our kid". Luckily, there were many witnesses who saw me jump in fully clothed, cell phone and wallet in pocket. It happened so quick and I happened to be the one who noticed her going under and then trying to come up for air. She did that twice before I jumped in because I was thinking that I cant be the only one watching this happen. Her parents were no farther than 10 feet away from her. This girl may have drowned if she went under one more time.

I was swimming in a popular Lake and turned around to hear what I thought was a gurgled almost inaudible "Help" . To my surprise a young boy about 8 was in over his head. He was trying to bounce to keep his head above water. The fright in his eyes was overwhelming. I swam to him and extended my arm to him and litterly yanked him out of the water. I grabbed him and held him as he choked and sputtered out water, then took him to shore to some uncaring parents who never once said Thank you, but started scolding the child for not knowing better.
In my heart I knew this child would have drowned and I thank God to this day I was there to offer some help..

This is so true. My brother was 2 I was 12 and we were at my godmother's pool. He was playing in the spa on the step but had fallen into the center. We were all right there next to the spa and heard nothing. His eyes were wide open just above the water line and he was vertical with his arms straight out, not moving. I am not sure how long he had been like that, but I immediately jumped in and got him out. He was fine, but it was all like a dream and very quiet. So thankful that he is still here with us!

A few years back I was standing in my neighbors pool by the steps when I realized there was a small body standing underwater submerged in 4 feet of water on a step behind me. I reached down and pulled this 2 year old out. He was gasping for air and was pretty much incoherent. I asked who's child this was until his mother came over with a drink in her hand totally oblivious her child was drowning right in front of her.