Drowning and brain injuries are serious issues that every parent should be aware of. Swimming is a popular summer hobby, but it is not completely risk-free due to the dangers associated with it. Knowing the things listed below might help you and your family stay safe. If you are in need of the help of a personal injury attorney due to a drowning accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for help.
A drowning child is unable to call for assistance
When a person is in danger of drowning, an innate response known as the instinctive drowning response is activated. Everything the body is doing is geared on raising the airways above water so that the sufferer may take a breath. There are several things that happen when the innate drowning reaction is triggered.
Every time the victim’s lips breaks the surface of the water, he or she is unable to shout for aid since the body is straining to take in oxygen rather than exhaling it. Because their inclination is to force their arms down into the water in attempt to push their body to the surface, the victim is unable to wave their arms to signal for aid.
It is impossible for the sufferer to swim to safety or even walk a few steps towards a rescuer since the victim’s legs are not functioning during the instinctual drowning reaction and therefore cannot move.
Swimming underwater poses a risk of shallow water blackout, which can be fatal
Children should not be encouraged to participate in activities in which they are required to hold their breath underwater for extended periods of time. Normally, when you hold your breath, your blood carbon dioxide levels rise, signaling that you need to take a breath.
However, as children prepare for underwater swimming by taking a large number of quick breaths, the quantity of carbon dioxide in their blood falls dramatically. When levels are already low when the kid dives beneath the surface of the water, it may take an excessive amount of time for levels to increase to the point where the youngster recognizes they need to breathe. They may experience dizziness or fainting while submerged, which might quickly result in death.
It is possible for children to drown even after they have left the water
It is possible that a youngster who has had a near-drowning and has water in their lungs will be at risk of subsequent drowning many hours later. The water will clog up the pores in their lungs, limiting their capacity to transport enough oxygen into the circulation to keep them alive. Extreme tiredness, breathing difficulties, chest discomfort, coughing, and vomiting are common side effects of this condition, among others. Failure to transport the infant to a medical facility on time may result in brain damage or death due to lack of oxygen.
The vast majority of drowning cases are terrible accidents. However, it is possible that carelessness had a role in the damage or death in some situations. Suppose a property owner has carelessly flouted rules about pool fence meant to prevent children from falling into pools. If this carelessness results in an accident, the property owner can and should be held liable for this negligence. An experienced personal injury attorney like The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker can advise parents on the possibilities of filing a premises liability claim to get compensation for their child’s brain injury or death. Contact us now at 800-333-0000 for help.
