KIDS GUIDE 2019

HAPPY & HEALTHY

Dry Drowning: Didyouknowyour childcouldbeat risk after an incident in the water? Here’s the 101 on dry drowning (or “secondarydrowning”), courtesyof International Medical Clinic (IMC). What is it? How common is it? Thankfully, secondary drowning is a very rare occurrence, only accounting for one to two percent of all drowning cases. What should I look out for? If a child has an incident in the pool and has come up struggling for breath, coughing or vomiting, take them to your local clinic or hospital as soon as possible. Time is a critical factor in successful treatment. Here are the key symptoms to watch out for in the first 24 hours:

Secondary, delayed drowning refers to the phenomenon ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), which occurs when a small amount of water enters the lungs after an episode of being submerged under water. The child may be coughing and spluttering immediately after an incident, but then seem fine afterwards. The inhaled water interferes with the lungs ability to oxygenate the blood and causes increased difficulty with breathing, which can occur up to 24 hours later. If it’s not recognised and treated early, it can result in death.

#1 Difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain or vomiting. #2 Extreme tiredness – a sign that the brain is not getting enough oxygen. #3 Behavioural changes. Children in the early stages of secondary drowning may seem more irritable or become argumentative. This is caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. #4 Physical symptoms like blue lips or pale skin.

International Medical Clinic is at 1 Orchard Boulevard, #14-06 Camden Medical Centre. 6733 4440 | imc-healthcare.com

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