With many movies depicting the thrashing and violent nature of drowning, many may think they would be able to spot a drowning victim in case of an emergency. But the truth is, drowning looks nothing like it does in most movies, which is something that most people do not realize until it is too late.
Contrary to popular belief, drowning is not the violent and splash-filled
disaster that one often sees on the big screen, but rather a quiet, subtle,
and eerily calm incident. While victims may be able to call for help when
they first begin to drown and try to stay afloat, once they begin drowning,
they cannot draw attention to themselves or stop their drowning. Without
proper knowledge and training, these incidents can be overlooked by even
close-by swimmers.
During drowning, a victim is unable to call out, wave for help, or kick
to get to the surface. Due to the nature of drowning, a victim cannot
control their arm movements to swim or wave for attention. Rescuing victims
as quickly as possible, whether they are just beginning to drown or have
been submerged for awhile, is incredibly important in order to prevent
brain injury and other serious physical effects.
Be on the lookout for these signs of drowning to protect family, friends, and anyone else nearby from suffering a fatal drowning incident:
- Open, glassy, and unfocused eyes;
- Head low in the water, mouth at water level;
- Head tilted back with mouth open;
- Hyperventilating or gasping;
- Attempting to swim in one direction without success;
- Trying, but failing, to roll over onto back to float; and
- Uncontrolled arm and leg movement under the water.
Summertime is the perfect opportunity for northern California residents of all ages to visit pools, lakes, and many other bodies of water for a great day outdoors. But these activities are not without serious risk. If you or a loved one has been injured in a drowning accident due to another party’s negligence or recklessness, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses with the help of a San Mateo drowning accident lawyer from Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP. For a consultation on your case, call our experienced legal team at (800) 900-0863.
