(RNN) - The heart-wrenching story of 4-year-old Frankie Delgado, who died a day after inhaling water while swimming, brought dry drowning into the public eye.
A few days later, a man from Colorado told his wife their son had inhaled water while swimming in a public pool. She had read the story and noticed some of the same symptoms in their own 2-year-old son after swimming in a public pool.
Garon Vega hurried his son to the hospital, where an X-ray showed water in his lungs. The doctor said the child, named Gio, would not have survived the night if he hadn't gotten help. Garon Vega tearfully thanked Frankie's parents for telling their story and saving his son's life.
So what are the symptoms of dry drowning? What are the signs of trouble after your child has been swimming?
If your child displays any of these symptoms after swimming. take them to the hospital immediately. While swimming watch your child to see if they have inhaled water, then coughed and spluttered but seemed to be all right.
- Persistent coughing the day after swimming.
- Labored breathing that causes the nostrils to flare - the sides of the nose move with every breath.
- The skin between the ribs and collar bone sink in as the child takes each breath.
- Grunting with each breath.
- Sleepiness, or lack of energy.
- Stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Chest pain.
- Fever.
It's important to stay with your child while they are swimming. Teach them how to lie back and float in case they are ever struggling in the water. Lie back, let the back of the head go into the water, cross the hands over the chest or paddle gently at the sides. Treading water can also save a life or buy time until help comes. Just make circular motions with the feet and hands, synchronizing the movements.
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