I was wondering how in video games and movies, when a person dies from drowning, air bubbles escape from their mouth, is that really when they lose consciousness? Or are they still conscious after that and then lose consciousness?
luckily i've never drowned or witnessed a drowning, so i don't know for sure. but i suspect that is more to help create a visual cue of when the person is losing consciousness than based on reality. on the other hand, it kind of makes sense. with the loss of consciousness, it would make sense that the muscles would relax, making it less likely that they would continue to hold in the last bit of air that's still in their lungs.
People who are drowning tend to panic, and it is a well known fact they will often drown anyone attempting to help them, if you do not know what you are doing.
I considered posting in this when I first saw it, but to spare the thoughts of mine from anyone who maybe have dealt with this I thought best not to. thought I did almost drown once on a beach in a rip tide a young country girls don't know what do with. I completely exhausted myself going up the guts of it, which I've learned now that's the worst thing to go. And I felt a very calm sensation, things went white. I could hear people calling me on, whether that was to the other side I am not sure. It was an non patrol beach and nobody to yell to. I didn't give up and kept going until I collapsed on the beach exhausted. I did not run out of air, but I was going to drown from exhaustion because I remember the waves just kept coming over me and I was getting sunk and I dunno, last ditch effort of adrenaline I suppose. I only mention I heard the voices because I remember them and I also remember no one was at the beach save a couple of guys on boogie boards who I had to run to and ask for help as my mum and her friend were also trapped in the rip tide. Was scary stuff. But we all made it.
as a rescuer, the way to defend against this is to swim underwater when they grab onto you. in their panic, they are just desperate to stay above water so they won't follow you down. then you can try to swim around behind them where it's much harder for them to hurt you, and tow them to safety from that position.
Google Search turned this up...... The 5 stages of drowning Victim recognizes imminent danger and becomes afraid. Involuntary Breath Holding Victim falls below the water line causing water to enter the mouth and the epiglottis to shut over the airway. Unconsciousness Lack of oxygen causes the body to shut down Hypoxic Convulsion Lack of oxygen causes the victim to look as if they are having a convulsion Clinical Death Breathing and circulation stop. Victim is in cardiac arrest and vital organs no longer receive oxygen rich blood.
