2006-09-12 15:35:02 · 16 answers · asked by hjep 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
15-20% of drowning victims 'dry drown'. There is a laryngospasm in response to water just starting to enter the lungs. Very little if any water is aspirated into the lungs. Asphyxiation and neurogenic pulmonary edema kills you instead.
2006-09-12 15:41:53 · answer #1 · answered by Andy S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is true that an acute reflex laryngospasm can occur without the intake of (much or any) water.
There is a difference between drowning in fresh water and drowning in sea water that is of importance with regard to how near drowning is treated.
With fresh water, the high osmolarity of the cells and plasma draw water quickly out of the lungs, the red blood cells swell up, potassium is released, and other electrolyte imbalances occur to stop the heart.
According to the Merck Manual (now available free online)
Trying to drain fresh water from the lungs wastes time because fresh water ,being hypotonic passes rapidly into the circulation.
Seawater, being hypertonic, draws plasma into the lungs, so drainage should be attempted. Trendelenburg's position should be attempted.
end quote.
2006-09-13 00:25:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In fact most drownings occur without water in the lungs. As soon as foreign substances come into contact with the gag reflex center it causes "laryngospasm." This is where the epiglottis covering the entrance to the trachea "slams" shut and stays shut to protect the lungs. The cause of death in drowning is usually suffocation from not being able to get oxygen to the lungs and then the blood.
2006-09-13 07:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by tac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not unless the person has been dead long enough for the water to evaporate and in that case they would have decomposed as well. The person could possibly have had some sort of convulsions after death and regurgitated the water. but there would still be traces of the water in thier lungs. A person who died this way actually must have suffocated instead of drowning. I suppose spending enough time in the water would saturate your body to the point of death, which is possible. But this would take months of saturation to do.
2006-09-12 22:40:39 · answer #4 · answered by souless one 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there have been some cases where someone got so drunk that if they lie on their back and puke, they could literally drown/suffocate in their on puke. So to answer your question, would be YES.
Basically, you can drown from being suffocated by any liquid, as long as that liquid is able to fill your lungs.
2006-09-12 22:46:51 · answer #5 · answered by Sherman81 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no really but you only need a tablespoon of water to drown so not all that much not all that hard. and drown means water otherwise it would be asphyxiation
2006-09-12 22:36:58 · answer #6 · answered by gsschulte 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. If someone is dead in the water, and there is no water in their lungs; It means they were dead befor the ever got in the water.
2006-09-12 22:42:10 · answer #7 · answered by pixles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if i am not wrong i once read about dry drowning... it happens when the water touches the glottis leading to a severe reflex spasm and the person is asphyxiated
2006-09-13 04:58:01 · answer #8 · answered by coolkid 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
water does go in the lung i watch alot crime sean shows loland one guy put a lady in water so they think she drowned ,they said she died b4 they put her in the water cause they found no sing of drowning 'no water in her lungs!!!!!!!
2006-09-12 22:47:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
water in lungs is terrible for people
digestive and respiratory have to be well differentiated by neurons to avoid that
sometimes i ate "raviolis" and got flemma or something coughing
once coughing a "ravioli" went back from my mouth .....
2006-09-12 23:00:58 · answer #10 · answered by Maria Valle B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋