Drowning Does Not Look Like Drowning. Know What To Look For.

Summer is almost here, and with it comes a lot of fun at the pool and at the lake. But it's important to keep safety in mind, especially when it comes to kids and water.

Sadly, in many drowning cases, there are adults nearby, but they aren't aware that anyone is in danger. It is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares us to look for is rarely seen in real life.

Look for these signs of drowning when persons are in the water:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level
Head tilted back with mouth open
Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
Eyes closed
Hair over forehead or eyes
Not using legs—vertical
Hyperventilating or gasping
Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
Trying to roll over on the back
Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder