Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — One mother’s worst nightmare ended, luckily, in happy tears. She learned that delayed drowning is a rare but scary way children who experience near-drowning can drown, hours later, on dry land.
Lindsay Kujawa wrote on her blog, "Delighted Momma," that she took her young son Ronin to a pool party. She looked away for a few seconds and, when she glanced back to check on him, he was gasping for breath in the spa. Although she pulled him out and he appeared to be all right, something seemed off.
“I called my pediatrician and left her a brief message explaining what had happened and what his symptoms were at the moment,” Kujawa wrote. “A few minutes later (that was quick I thought as I answered the phone) she called me back. She was stern and said I needed to take Ronin to the ER NOW because he could be experiencing what is called secondary drowning.”
Chest X-rays revealed that her son’s lungs had absorbed harmful chemicals from the treated pool water, and he was rushed to another hospital for treatment. Days later, after tests and round-the-clock monitoring, Ronin woke up. Kujawa said it was thanks to the quick response by herself and medical professionals that the condition did not advance to becoming fatal.
Secondary drowning acts slowly, and is difficult to detect WiseGeek said. Water that fills the lungs of the victim can cause a drop in blood oxygen levels. Although coughing may appear to rid the lungs of all fluid, the pores of the lungs can still be filled with water. This makes it difficult for the lungs to oxygenate the blood. Although the heart does not slow, and breathing may not be altered, blood oxygen levels are drastically changing.
“Victims may or may not feel the effects of secondary drowning immediately,” WiseGeek explains. “Children and anyone who has experienced a near-drowning should be watched closely after leaving a swimming area. Vomiting or involuntary defecation immediately following a swimming session should be considered a red flag. A sudden change in personality or energy level, such as agitation or extreme lethargy, may be a sign of oxygen deprivation.”
