Dry drowning is a respiratory complication that can occur when a person inhales a small amount of water after a near-drowning incident or after being submerged.
Dry drowning can happen to a person who has been pulled from the water in a near-drowning incident or who has accidentally inhaled water while submerged.
Also called “secondary or delayed drowning,” dry drowning mainly occurs in children. According to Nationwide Children’s, over 95% of children who have had a close call in the water are fine. But 5% go on to develop symptoms of dry drowning.
For this reason, it’s important to be vigilant and aware of dry drowning symptoms that can happen once your child appears safe and dry.
Dry drowning is a medical emergency that requires prompt attention.
Keep reading to learn about symptoms of dry drowning and what to do if your child or a person you know is experiencing symptoms.
What causes dry drowning?
Dry drowning is defined as “delayed respiratory distress or failure from water in the lungs.” A number of mechanisms contribute to this condition, including:
- Inhaling water. Water or another substance in your lungs (such as vomit) can damage lung tissue and reduce the lung’s ability to deliver oxygen to the body.
- Lung surfactant disruption. Water can disrupt the function of surfactant, a soap-like substance in your lungs that keeps the tiny airways in the lungs from collapsing and sticking.
- Laryngospasm. When your vocal cords spasm or close, it temporarily blocks airflow into your lungs. This may occur after a near-drowning incident.
- Pulmonary edema. Pulmonary edema occurs when fluid builds up in the lungs. It can be caused by damaged lung tissue from inhaled water, cardiac arrest, pneumonia, high altitude sickness, and other reasons.
Even small amounts of water inhaled into the lungs can cause delayed complications known as dry or secondary drowning. This occurs when water irritates the lining of the lungs, leading to inflammation and fluid buildup.
Warning signs of dry drowning may occur within hours or even days after getting out of the water.
Symptoms to watch for after a water incident include:
- difficulty breathing or speaking
- irritability or behavior changes
- coughing
- chest pain or discomfort
- low energy or sleepiness after a water incident
If your child or someone you know has had a water scare, it’s important to keep an eye on them for at least 24 hours after the incident. If you notice any of the above symptoms or unusual behavior, call 911.
If a child is having difficulty breathing, they may be unable to speak or describe their symptoms.
Even if your child appears to be fine after a water submersion incident, be sure to monitor them in the hours after the incident. If you see symptoms of dry drowning, call 911 for emergency medical assistance without delay.
In the meantime, try to keep yourself or your child calm if they are having trouble breathing. If the difficulty is due to a laryngospasm, keeping calm can help the windpipe muscles relax more quickly.
Once emergency help arrives, they will administer treatment at the scene and take your child to the hospital for observation.
Having symptoms of dry drowning after a submersion incident requires medical observation to make sure that regular breathing resumes and to rule out other conditions, such as bacterial pneumonia.
A chest X-ray or evaluation by a pulmonary (lung) specialist may be needed to rule out water in the lungs.
What to do if a child is unconscious or not breathing
If your child is unconscious or not breathing after being pulled from the water, or if your child loses consciousness in the hours after a water incident, have a bystander call 911 and follow these steps:
- Administer rescue breaths: Start by giving 5 rescue breaths if your child is not breathing.
- Perform CPR: If there’s no pulse, begin CPR right away: administer chest compressions and continue rescue breathing until help arrives.
- Prevent aspiration: If your child vomits, gently roll them onto their side to prevent choking or aspiration.
- Support their neck and head: If you suspect they may have injured their neck or head (such as from diving into shallow water), keep their neck immobile in a straight position to avoid further injury.
According to the CDC, drowning is the
Any water submersion is a serious risk for children 2 years old and younger. Even if a child is just under the water for a minute or two, take them straight to the emergency room after a water scare.
Keep these safety rules in mind when you have small children in your care:
- Supervise children who are under 4 years old in any body of water. This includes the bathtub.
- Children under 4 years of age should never swim or bathe unassisted.
- Passengers of all ages should wear lifejackets while boating.
- Consider taking an infant CPR class if you frequently supervise children at the pool or the beach.
- Invest in swimming lessons for yourself and your children.
- Keep pool gates closed at all times.
- Don’t swim or play near the ocean without a lifeguard present.
People who are treated immediately when symptoms of dry drowning occur have a high probability of recovering with no lasting side effects.
The most important thing to guarantee a good outcome is carefully watching for symptoms after a water submersion accident. The minute symptoms occur, call 911 for immediate emergency assistance.
If your child loses consciousness or stops breathing, call 911 and administer CPR until emergency responders arrive.