This past week was a sad week for west Michigan as there were quite few drownings in Lake Michigan. The saddest was the story of the 9 year old that got to far out (thanks to the rip current) and his Dad went out to save him. Prise the lord that the farther did save his son. A good Samaritan went out as well and the father handed his son to this Samaritan and the Samaritan got the son to safety. As he turned around to see the father, the father was gone. He was unable to make it back to shore and ended up drowning. My thoughts and prayers go out to that family as I can’t imagine the heartache they are going through.
Because of these drownings I thought it would be good to post the following which was found on gCaptain’s website.
Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled, before speech occurs.
Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.
Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water, permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.
Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.
From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.
So next time you are by water, keep alert! Don’t just think you will hear someone yelling for help as that’s not how the case is all the time.
