If you have this, think twice before swimming

Drowning isn’t as dramatic as the splashing, screaming scenes played out in movies and TV. In reality, drowning is incredibly quiet, as people silently slip into the water, said Craig S. Cornwall, MD, emergency medicine physician with Cape Cod Hospital.

That’s why you have to take precautions before entering water, he warned.

Dr. Cornwall spent years as a lifeguard during high school and college. Today, his daughter is a lifeguard on the Cape.

“I’d say about half of my colleagues launched their medical careers by being lifeguards,” he said. “I’ve witnessed a number of near-drownings, even plucking a few of my four young children out of the water. Of all the people I’ve pulled out of the water, I don’t think one has made a single sound. Every near-drowning has been incredibly quiet.

“You need to recognize people in trouble before they go under the water. By the time someone is close to drowning, they can’t wave their arms and scream for help; they can’t speak and have no energy. That’s the reality of drowning.”

New Study

A new study serves to remind everyone that water safety isn’t seasonal. Results showed that the risk of fatal drowning is increased when people have these preexisting medical conditions:

• Cardiovascular disease,
• Respiratory disease 
• Physical disability
• Seizure or neurocognitive disorders (drownings in this group occur most frequently in bathtubs)

Most drowning deaths occurred when the person was alone or when the drowning was not witnessed, the research showed.

“You can drown if you have a medical event, such as a seizure or cardiac arrest,” Dr. Cornwall explained. “People with seizure disorders shouldn’t be swimming. People with heart conditions, lung disease or neurologic conditions may not have the coordination or physical strength to swim, and they can get into trouble in the water.”

As the official beach doctor at his local beach club, Dr. Cornwall advises the lifeguards to “profile the beach.” This means looking for the really young and for older people who don’t seem to be moving very well. Those are the people who will generally get into trouble, he said.

For some elderly individuals, getting into surf that wouldn’t have been a problem 20 years earlier is now difficult for them. Their balance and strength may be off, but they remember how they used to be able to swim. Sometimes, they just don’t realize their physical capabilities have changed, Dr. Cornwall said.

Young people who are more adventurous and not experienced swimmers can also get themselves in trouble, he said. They may be too embarrassed to admit to friends that they are not good swimmers, so try to do more than they can. To keep up appearances with their friends, they will attempt to swim, even if they don’t really know how, and that can get them into trouble, he said.

Be Water Competent

Dr. Cornwall said we should remember it doesn’t take a lot of water to drown, and we should be aware of our limitations. He added that these “water-smart” tips from the American Red Cross are helpful. The Red Cross suggests taking these precautions whenever you’re around water, even if you’re not planning to swim:

• Know your limitations, including physical fitness and medical conditions.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
• Swim sober.
• Know how to call for help. If you are drowning, you probably will not be able to thrash your hands and scream to attract attention. Don’t swim alone.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as:
  • River currents,
  • Ocean rip currents,
  • Water temperature,
  • Shallow or unclear water, or
  • Underwater hazards, such as vegetation and animals.