Instinctive drowning response
Encyclopedia
The instinctive drowning response is a set of behaviors automatically undertaken by a person who either is, or is very close to, drowning
.
These are autonomic responses
of the body, undertaken without deliberate control, and "represent a person's final attempts to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in water
" before sinking.
To an untrained observer, it may not be obvious the drowning person is in distress. In fact, the lack of visible panic in their movements is because at this point they are incapable of making other gestures or calling for help.
Lifeguard
s and other persons trained in rescue learn to recognize drowning people by watching for these instinct
ive actions, since the popular belief about drowning being a violent activity with much movement is misleading. A person may appear to be swimming safely when they are within 20–60 seconds of sinking under the surface.
is popularized as a highly visible behavior, involving shouting, abrupt or violent movements such as splashing and waving, and visible difficulty. Drowning happens in water, often with an inexperienced swimmer. While distress and panic
may sometimes take place beforehand, drowning itself is deceptively quick and often silent.
above water long enough to breathe
properly and is unable to shout. Lacking air, his/her body cannot perform the voluntary efforts involved in waving or seeking attention. Involuntary actions operated by the autonomic nervous system
involve lateral flapping or paddling with the arms to press them down into the water in the effort to raise the mouth long enough to breathe, and tilting the head back. As an instinctive reaction
, this is not consciously mediated
nor under conscious control.
The victim is "too quiet," and unable to make other life-preserving actions — they cannot kick their feet, nor swim to a rescuer, nor grasp a rope or other rescue equipment at this point. They may be misunderstood as "playing in the water" by those unfamiliar with drowning, and other swimmers just meters away may not realize that an emergency is occurring.
The lack of leg movement, upright position, inability to talk or keep the mouth consistently above water, and (upon attempting to reach the victim) the absence of expected rescue-directed actions, are evidence of the condition.
Mario Vittone of the US Coast Guard, this instinct takes place for typically no longer than the final 20–60 seconds during drowning and before sinking underwater. In comparison, a person who can still shout and keep their mouth constantly above water may be in distress, but is not in immediate danger of drowning compared to a person unable to do so.
based upon study of video footage of actual and near-drownings, and documented in a 1971 instructional video titled "On Drowning", and a 1974 paper titled "Observations on the drowning of nonswimmers" (Journal of Physical Education).
At the time, it was commonly believed that drowning involved agitated behaviors, although Pia cites an earlier (unspecified) 1966 paper as also observing this was not necessarily the case.
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
.
These are autonomic responses
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
of the body, undertaken without deliberate control, and "represent a person's final attempts to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
" before sinking.
To an untrained observer, it may not be obvious the drowning person is in distress. In fact, the lack of visible panic in their movements is because at this point they are incapable of making other gestures or calling for help.
Lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
s and other persons trained in rescue learn to recognize drowning people by watching for these instinct
Instinct
Instinct or innate behavior is the inherent inclination of a living organism toward a particular behavior.The simplest example of an instinctive behavior is a fixed action pattern, in which a very short to medium length sequence of actions, without variation, are carried out in response to a...
ive actions, since the popular belief about drowning being a violent activity with much movement is misleading. A person may appear to be swimming safely when they are within 20–60 seconds of sinking under the surface.
Description
DrowningDrowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
is popularized as a highly visible behavior, involving shouting, abrupt or violent movements such as splashing and waving, and visible difficulty. Drowning happens in water, often with an inexperienced swimmer. While distress and panic
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reaction...
may sometimes take place beforehand, drowning itself is deceptively quick and often silent.
Instinctive drowning response
A person at, or close to, the point of drowning is unable to keep his/her mouthMouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
above water long enough to breathe
Breathing
Breathing is the process that moves air in and out of the lungs. Aerobic organisms require oxygen to release energy via respiration, in the form of the metabolism of energy-rich molecules such as glucose. Breathing is only one process that delivers oxygen to where it is needed in the body and...
properly and is unable to shout. Lacking air, his/her body cannot perform the voluntary efforts involved in waving or seeking attention. Involuntary actions operated by the autonomic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...
involve lateral flapping or paddling with the arms to press them down into the water in the effort to raise the mouth long enough to breathe, and tilting the head back. As an instinctive reaction
Instinct
Instinct or innate behavior is the inherent inclination of a living organism toward a particular behavior.The simplest example of an instinctive behavior is a fixed action pattern, in which a very short to medium length sequence of actions, without variation, are carried out in response to a...
, this is not consciously mediated
Involuntary action
An involuntary action is one which occurs without the conscious choice of an organism. If it occurs specifically in response to a stimulus, it will be known as a reflex....
nor under conscious control.
The victim is "too quiet," and unable to make other life-preserving actions — they cannot kick their feet, nor swim to a rescuer, nor grasp a rope or other rescue equipment at this point. They may be misunderstood as "playing in the water" by those unfamiliar with drowning, and other swimmers just meters away may not realize that an emergency is occurring.
The lack of leg movement, upright position, inability to talk or keep the mouth consistently above water, and (upon attempting to reach the victim) the absence of expected rescue-directed actions, are evidence of the condition.
Timing
According to AST1Aviation Survival Technician
Aviation Survival Technicians are enlisted United States Coast Guard airborne "rescue swimmers". They are trained at the U.S. Coast Guard's enlisted Aviation Survival Technician/Rescue Swimmer school at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina...
Mario Vittone of the US Coast Guard, this instinct takes place for typically no longer than the final 20–60 seconds during drowning and before sinking underwater. In comparison, a person who can still shout and keep their mouth constantly above water may be in distress, but is not in immediate danger of drowning compared to a person unable to do so.
Research and discovery
The common behaviors during drowning were identified by Frank PiaFrank Pia
Francesco Pia is an American lifeguard, recognized in the field for his research and training on ways to rescue people in trouble in the water...
based upon study of video footage of actual and near-drownings, and documented in a 1971 instructional video titled "On Drowning", and a 1974 paper titled "Observations on the drowning of nonswimmers" (Journal of Physical Education).
At the time, it was commonly believed that drowning involved agitated behaviors, although Pia cites an earlier (unspecified) 1966 paper as also observing this was not necessarily the case.
External links
- Key papers: Observations on the drowning of nonswimmers (1974)
- Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning - video and description on coastguard Mario Vittone's website