How to Recognize Drowning

Last weekend, a three-year-old girl drowned in a holiday park in Limburg. Terrible news. And she is not the only child to die in this way. Did you know that someone who is drowning usually does not call for help? A drowning is therefore difficult to recognize. In this article, we explain what the possible signs are.

Children splashing wildly in the water, waving their arms, and doing somersaults: you often see it in swimming pools and recreational lakes. Although these can be signs of someone in distress, it is understandable that you might not immediately assume the worst. But if it happens before your eyes, you would immediately rush to help. Right?

Boy fights for his life in a crowded swimming pool
That turns out not to be so obvious. Although in movies you often see drowning victims flailing wildly and calling for help, the reality is unfortunately very different. A drowning occurs faster and more silently than you think, making it likely that you do not realize what is happening. This is demonstrated bythis video, in which a young boy in a crowded pool in Helsinki fights for his life.

Five signs of a possible drowning
Nevertheless, there are some clear signs that indicate someone may need help. We list them here for you:

Children/adults who are drowning...

1. are unable to call for help due to a lack of oxygen. This does not mean they do not need help.
2. frequently go under and come back up. However, they are unable to breathe.
3. instinctively keep their arms horizontal to keep their head above water and not vertical—as is often shown in movies—to attract the attention of bystanders.
4. remain 'upright' in the water, without being able to tread water.
5. have no control over their limbs and are therefore unable to grasp anything.

The boy in the video fortunately survived the incident in the pool, but be aware that it can happen very quickly. Do you want to know what to do if someone is drowning? During a first aid course, you will learn everything you need to know.