In movies and television shows, drowning is often very dramatic. A person will be flailing their arms and yelling for help. They will be splashing and struggling in the water. It will be obvious that they are drowning, and people nearby may have a significant amount of time to swim out and save them.
But in the real world, this is not usually what drowning looks like at all. It is much more subtle. Often, those who drown are very close to friends or family members. For instance, when a parent loses a child in a drowning accident, in 50% of cases, that child is not more than 25 yards away from their parent.
A silent process
Often, drowning is relatively silent. A person may not kick their legs at all. Their face will typically be close to the surface, and they will tip their head back as they try to keep their mouth above the water. They may start bobbing up and down.
This is why they often do not scream or yell for help. They are focused on trying to gasp for air when they come up above the surface.
Rather than splashing their arms above the water, a person generally keeps their arms under the water, as they instinctively push down, bringing their arms to their sides. They are just trying to survive and propel themselves to the surface long enough to get one more breath.
Compensation after a drowning accident
If a child or a family member has been injured in a drowning incident, or if a loved one has passed away, you may believe that another person or organization’s negligence played a role. Swimming pools and hot tubs are inherently dangerous, and these are sometimes premises liability cases. Be sure you know about all of the legal options you have to seek compensation for medical bills and more.