Sign of Drowning

Drowning can happen rapidly and quietly. Some signs of a person drowning include:

• Uncontrollable movement and thrashing of arms and legs (it can look like a person is trying to climb out of the water or do the breast stroke),
• The head is low in the water, bobbing up and down with the mouth and or nose near or below the water surface,
• The head could be tilted back and the mouth open,
• The body is bobbing up and down or face down, and
• The eyes are wide open and fear is evident (or the eyes might be glazed over).

The victim could be gasping (hyperventilation), and or trying to swim or roll over onto his or her back. A drowning person will rarely raise his or her arms out the water; he or she will probably not be able to call out for help because of a lack of air.

To learn more about Water Safety & Drowning Hazards visit our Water Safety & Drowning Hazards Online Training web page.