You may have heard terms such as dry drowning, secondary drowning, near drowning, wet drowning or even freshwater and saltwater drowning.
These terms are still commonly searched for online, but they can make drowning more complicated and confusing than it needs to be.
Today, drowning is better understood as a single process that happens when a person experiences breathing difficulties because they are submerged or immersed in liquid. The outcome can then be described as either fatal or non-fatal drowning.
Understanding this distinction is important, but knowing what to do when someone is in difficulty in the water is even more important.
What Is Drowning?
Drowning happens when a person’s breathing is affected by being submerged or immersed in liquid.
A drowning incident does not always result in death. A person can be rescued and survive, although they may still need urgent medical assessment and treatment.
This gives us two main outcomes:
Non-fatal drowning means the person survives the drowning incident.
Fatal drowning means the person dies as a result of the drowning incident.
This is much clearer than trying to divide drowning into a long list of different “types”.
Is Near Drowning Still a Type of Drowning?
The term “near drowning” has traditionally been used to describe somebody who was rescued and survived after being submerged in water.
You may still hear people use the term, but non-fatal drowning is the clearer terminology.
The important point is that surviving the initial incident does not necessarily mean everything is fine.
Someone who has experienced breathing difficulties following submersion or immersion may require medical assessment, particularly if they have ongoing coughing, breathing difficulties, unusual tiredness, confusion or other concerning symptoms.
If you are concerned about someone’s condition following a drowning incident, seek appropriate medical help.
What Is Dry Drowning?
“Dry drowning” is another term that regularly appears online and on social media.
It is not a separate type of drowning.
Historically, the term has been used to describe situations where very little water was thought to have entered the lungs. However, dividing drowning incidents into “wet” and “dry” drowning does not help a first aider decide what action to take.
For first aid purposes, concentrate on the casualty’s condition.
Are they responsive?
Are they breathing normally?
Do they require immediate resuscitation?
These are much more important questions than trying to decide whether the incident was a particular “type” of drowning.
What Is Secondary Drowning?
“Secondary drowning” is another outdated expression that can cause unnecessary confusion.
You may have seen warnings online suggesting that someone can appear completely well after swimming and then suddenly “drown” hours or even days later.
Rather than looking for something called secondary drowning, concentrate on the person’s actual signs and symptoms following a drowning incident.
If someone has been rescued from the water and has difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, reduced responsiveness or another concerning change in their condition, they need appropriate medical assessment.
Do not rely on internet terminology to decide whether somebody needs help.
Is Freshwater Drowning Different From Saltwater Drowning?
A drowning incident can happen in many different environments, including:
- Swimming pools
- Rivers
- Lakes
- Reservoirs
- The sea
- Baths
- Ponds and other bodies of water
For a first aider, the immediate priorities do not change simply because the water was fresh or salty.
The priority is to keep yourself safe, get the person out of the water safely if this can be achieved without putting yourself in danger, assess their condition and provide the first aid they need.
What Should You Do If Someone Is Drowning?
Your own safety comes first.
If you are not trained in water rescue, do not enter the water and put yourself at risk. One casualty can quickly become two.
Call 999 and get the appropriate emergency service on the way.
Where possible, try to help from a safe position on land. A flotation device, lifebuoy, rescue tube or other suitable rescue equipment may help the person stay above the water until trained rescuers can reach them.
The Resuscitation Council UK drowning guidance specifically advises people who are not trained in water rescue not to enter the water.
First Aid After a Person Has Been Removed From the Water
Once the casualty is safely out of the water, assess them immediately.
If they are unresponsive, call 999 immediately if this has not already been done and assess their breathing.
Drowning is particularly important from a first aid perspective because the casualty has been deprived of oxygen.
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally following drowning, current UK drowning guidance recommends giving five initial rescue breaths and then beginning standard CPR.
If an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, is available, dry the casualty’s chest quickly, attach the pads and follow the AED’s instructions.
Continue CPR and AED use until the casualty shows signs of life or professional emergency help arrives and takes over.
You can learn more about CPR, AED use and responding to life-threatening emergencies through our First Aid Training Courses.
What If the Person Is Breathing?
A person who is unresponsive but breathing normally will still require emergency medical help.
Continue to monitor their airway and breathing while waiting for the emergency services and protect them from becoming cold.
Drowning and exposure to cold water can result in hypothermia, so once the person has been rescued it is important to minimise further heat loss.
Remove wet clothing where appropriate, replace it with dry clothing or blankets and protect the casualty from the cold ground and wind.
Continue monitoring them because their condition can change.
Why Rescue Breaths Matter in Drowning
You may have learned that chest compressions are the most important immediate action when somebody experiences a sudden cardiac arrest.
Drowning is different because lack of oxygen is central to the emergency.
This is why rescue breaths have a particularly important role in drowning resuscitation.
Current Resuscitation Council UK guidance recommends five initial rescue breaths for an unresponsive person who is not breathing following drowning, followed by standard CPR.
This is one of the reasons practical first aid training is so valuable. Learning CPR on a training manikin allows you to practise opening the airway, giving effective rescue breaths and performing chest compressions before you ever need those skills in a real emergency.
Can Anyone Use an AED After a Drowning?
Yes.
An AED can be used following a drowning related cardiac arrest.
Once the casualty is out of the water, quickly dry the chest before applying the AED pads. Switch the AED on and follow its spoken or visual instructions.
Anyone can use an AED. You do not need to be a healthcare professional.
CPR should only be interrupted when necessary while the AED analyses the casualty’s heart rhythm or instructs you to deliver a shock.
Preventing Drowning
Prevention is always better than having to respond to an emergency.
Simple precautions can reduce the risk:
- Supervise babies and young children closely whenever they are in or around water.
- Never assume that a strong swimmer cannot get into difficulty.
- Be aware of currents, tides, water temperature and hidden hazards in open water.
- Use suitable flotation or safety equipment for water activities.
- Avoid entering the water after drinking alcohol or taking substances that could affect judgement or coordination.
- Follow local warning signs and instructions.
- Choose supervised swimming locations where possible.
- Learn first aid and CPR so you know what to do if an emergency happens.
Drowning can happen quickly and may not look like the dramatic struggling commonly shown on television.
Recognising that someone is in difficulty and getting help quickly can make an enormous difference.
So, How Many Types of Drowning Are There?
The simplest answer is that we should no longer think about drowning as a collection of separate conditions such as dry drowning, wet drowning, secondary drowning or near drowning.
Drowning describes the process caused by respiratory impairment following submersion or immersion in liquid.
The outcome is then described as:
Non-fatal drowning, where the person survives.
Fatal drowning, where the person dies.
For a first aider, however, identifying a particular label is far less important than recognising the emergency, calling for help, keeping yourself safe and providing appropriate first aid.
Learn CPR and First Aid with FAST
Reading about drowning and CPR is useful, but it cannot replace practising these skills.
At First Aid and Safety Training, we provide practical, Ofqual regulated first aid training courses across the North East, including CPR, rescue breaths and AED use.
If you are ready to get qualified, you can book a first aid course or contact First Aid and Safety Training if you would like help choosing the right course for yourself or your organisation.
You can also view First Aid and Safety Training on Google to see our business information and customer reviews.
