4-year-old Elianna Grace nearly lost her life after playing with family members in their backyard pool in Bradenton, Florida. In a freak accident, Elianna ended up swallowing a large amount of water that would lead to a dry drowning!
She immediately threw up and a few minutes later she seemed back to normal and was playing in the pool again. But over the next few days, Elianna started to have fevers and complain of being tired. Lacey Grace, Elianna’s mother, remembered a story she had seen last year on TV about a young boy dying from ‘dry drowning.’
After consulting with a family doctor, Lacey took her daughter to the hospital where she was diagnosed with secondary drowning which is when water becomes trapped in the lungs. It can take up to 48 hours for symptoms to appear.
Thankfully, Elianna’s condition was caught in time but if left untreated, this very easily could have had a different ending! Now, this mom is speaking out to make sure everyone is aware of the signs and symptoms of this very real and dangerous condition.
WATCH: Dangers of Dry Drowning
Credit: TODAY
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Dry Drowning (Secondary Drowning) Symptoms Include:
- Irritability
- Coughing
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme tiredness
How to Avoid a Dry Drowning
The only way to avoid a dry drowning (secondary drowning) is to avoid a drowning to begin with.
- Never let your child swim alone
- Only swim in areas patrolled by lifeguards
- Always closely monitor any child playing near water