Be in the know about water safety this summer, as drowning can be a "silent killer."
Would you know what to do if someone was drowning near you?
Jim Spiers is president of Swim For Life in New York City and has demonstrated how to spot the warning signs of a drowning for Inside Edition.
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“Drowning is not like Hollywood. Thrashing and screaming cries for help — that doesn’t exist. Drowning is very silent,” he said. “It is very easy to miss.”
When someone is drowning, the victim is too panicked to scream for help.
Spiers said that their “Head is tilted back, struggling to stay above water. Their eyes are wide and very panic looking and glassed over.”
The expert says the smartest move is to extend a float like a noodle and let the child take hold it of it. Then, pull the child to safety.
A drowning victim in deeper water poses a greater risk.
If a drowning victim is spotted on the beach or by a pool, the best thing to do is to alert a lifeguard, Spiers said, since they are certified in water rescue.
“No matter how good a swimmer, you must remember that a panicked victim can grab onto you and in the struggle you both sink under water,” Spiers said. “Now you have two drowning victims instead of one.”
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If you have a backyard pool party, Spiers advises having a designated pool watcher.
According to the CDC, 70 percent of drowning victims at preschool age are in the care of one or both parents.
“Parents get involved on iPads, cell phones, and are not paying attention to child and the child can drown without a sound,” he said.
