March 3, 2024, 4:51 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
The term “secondary” or “second drowning” frequently appears in social media feeds–especially among parents. It refers to the phenomenon where children can allegedly die hours or days after swallowing water. This can be frightening for parents. A pediatric intensive care physician explains what the term really means and what to do in an emergency.
No question: You should never take your eyes off young children while they are bathing. Otherwise, it can quickly become life-threatening. According to the German Lifeguard Association (DLRG), the number of drowning accidents is rising. In 2023, 16 children under the age of ten died in swimming accidents.1 But do you need to be just as vigilant at home in the bathtub? If a child swallows a small amount of water while splashing, parents generally don’t need to worry. This is explained by Till Dresbach, senior physician in neonatology and pediatric intensive care at the University Hospital Bonn, to the dpa. However, it’s important to recognize the signs of secondary drowning even in bathtub incidents.
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Overview
Expert Finds the Term “Secondary Drowning” Misleading
Contrary to reports circulating on social media about secondary drowning, swallowing small amounts of water is not life-threatening–not even days or weeks after the incident. At least, not if no symptoms have appeared beforehand.
“Secondary drowning is not a medical term,” says Dresbach. According to him, the term is misleading. If children swallow a little water or inhale small amounts, it usually only leads to a cough reflex that protects the lungs from the water, says the pediatric intensive care physician. It only becomes dangerous when larger amounts of water enter the lungs.
Also interesting: Quick Help! What Should You Do if Children Have Eaten Poisonous Plants?
What to Do if the Child Swallowed a Lot of Water?
The expert emphasizes: “If I rescue a child from the water who has swallowed large amounts of water, they should, of course, be examined by a doctor.” To recognize a real case of secondary drowning as a parent, the physician offers a rule of thumb: Always seek medical advice if the symptoms after inhaling water are more severe than when swallowing a drink.
The same applies if the child vomits, coughs increasingly, has breathing problems, or breathes faster hours or days after swallowing water. Because then a bacterial pneumonia could be behind it, says Dresbach.
By the way: Not only the lungs can be at risk, but the ears can also become a problem. Children who swim a lot in the summer are at risk of developing a so-called “swimmer’s ear.”
Children Often Drown Right in Front of Their Parents
Beware: The Dangers of Swimming in Summer!
What Matters in an Emergency
In swimming accidents, pediatric intensive care physicians at the University Hospital Bonn recommend the following:
- Immediately rescue the child from the water.
- Immediately call an emergency doctor at 112. Ideally, a second person should do this.
- If the child is unconscious and you cannot detect breathing, you should immediately start resuscitation measures. For a child, it’s best to use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Important: Tilt the head back so the air reaches the lungs.
- For all children, there should be five breaths. Hold the child’s nose to prevent air from escaping. If there are no signs of life after the five breaths, start chest compressions.
- Important: Resuscitation measures can be life-saving. They can significantly improve treatment, according to experts. It is a big mistake not to take action out of fear.
Children Can Attend Swimming Lessons from Age Five
According to a forsa survey commissioned by the DLRG in 2022, the number of elementary school children in Germany who cannot swim has doubled.2 It is advisable to minimize the risk of swimming accidents by having children learn to swim as early as possible. To get accustomed to the water and prevent them from developing fears, baby swimming is recommended by the DLRG. For actually learning to swim, children can attend a course from age five. At this point, children are able to coordinate breathing, arm, and leg movements simultaneously. More information on children’s swimming and choosing the right course can be found in this article.
*with material from dpa