The Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Story

HOW TO: Drowning

Drowning in real life looks nothing like in the movies and in fact many parents actually watch their children drown, having no idea that it's happening. 

According to the CDC, in ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it. Drowning does not look like drowning - Dr. Pia in an article described the instinctive drowning response like this:

1.) 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. 

2.) Drowning people's mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above 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. 

3.) Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the waters surface. Passing down on the waters surface permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breath. 

4.) Throughout the instinctive drowning response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help toward a rescuer or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment. 

5.) From beginning to end of the instinctive drowning response peoples bodies tend to 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. 

This doesn't mean that a person that is yelling for help and thrashing isn't in real life trouble - they are experiencing aquatic distress. Not always present before instinctive drowning response, aquatic distress doesn't last long - but unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist their own rescue. They can grab lifelines, throw rings etc 

Look for these other signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

 - head low in the water, mouth at water level

 - head tilted back with mouth open

 - eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus

 - eyes closed

 - hair over forehead or eyes

 - not using legs - vertical

 - hyperventilating or gasping

 - trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway

 - trying to roll over onto their back

 - appear to be climbing an invisible ladder

So if a crew member falls overboard and everything looks okay - don't be too sure. Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don't look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, "are you alright?" If they can answer at all - they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get them. And parents - children playing in the watermark noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why. 

Also please remember that even strong swimmers can drown if they have a medical emergency, get cramps or get too tired. If your friend knows how to swim but they're acting funny get them to land. And even if someone can respond when you ask them if they say they do need help; go help them. 

However; if the victim is a stranger, I can't recommend trying to get the. Lifeguards are trained to escape "attacks" because people who are drowning can freak the fuck out and grab you and make you drown as well. If you do go in after someone, take hold of them from the back and talk to them the whole time. If you are grabbed, duck down into the water as low as you can get. the person is panicking and won't want to go under water and should release you. Shove up at their hands and push them away from you as you duck under. Don't die trying to save someone else.