- You can know your child was struggling if he or she:
- Was underwater and came up choking or coughing.
- Became unconscious (or can’t remember being) under water.
- Had to be rescued. Never let a child back into the water if this happens.
Let’s start with the obvious question: What is “dry drowning?” When too much water gets trapped in someone’s throat or lungs, it can stay stuck there for as long as 24 hours, stopping the flow of oxygen to his or her brain. That’s why it’s called “dry drowning” – it happens out of water. It’s rare, but serious. Here’s what you can do to spot it and prevent it.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 24 hours after a close call for your child to display any dry drowning symptoms.
- Nationwide Children's Hospital