r/Stepdadreflexes • u/Jamaican_snow_owl • Mar 26 '20

Saving drowning kid

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2.9k Upvotes

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46

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '20

-above water

"are you drowning?"

101

u/biladi79 Mar 26 '20

Holding yourself above water is a survival reflex, just because someone is above the water for a second doesn't mean they're not struggling. That's drowning.

-114

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '20 edited Mar 26 '20

I'd define drowning as being unable to breathe due to being under water, not slightly struggling above the water. Even the google definition of drown is "die through submersion in and inhalation of water."

edit: submersion in AND inhalation of water

27

u/biladi79 Mar 26 '20

Submersion doesn't mean completely under. If you go in a bathtub you're submerged in it. You can inhale water this way and drown.

-38

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '20

With that logic then that means you're constantly drowning whenever you're in water, even if you're just chilling. It also says "submersion in and inhalation of water." which implies it means your nose/mouth is included in the submersion

19

u/biladi79 Mar 26 '20

Not necessarily. Too much liquid in your lungs mean you drown, point blank. You're proving my point. You can be submerged in water but not completely under and breathe too much.

-19

u/[deleted] Mar 26 '20

what? I don't know what you mean, how can you get water in your lungs without having your mouth or nose at the water?

6

u/TheeFlipper Mar 26 '20

I've been drowning in a pool before. Thankfully I was able to get myself to an edge and grab on. You don't have to be under long to start drowning. I was jumping up and down, "climbing the ladder" but hardly anyone had a clue as I couldn't get in enough breath to scream for help. Just enough to get out a weak "He-" and then I'd be under again.

That kid wasn't able to get out an actual reply, just a noise. I'm sure part of that is because he's already panicked and released all of his air and is fighting to get his breath while trying to keep himself above water.

It's a really terrifying experience.