Save a life this summer!

Today, over on The Leaky B@@b facebook page (a wonderful breastfeeding support resource that I would recommend to any new parents hoping to breastfeed their child), they shared the most important article you will read this summer – or any summer for that matter. Did you know that the way that Hollywood depicts drownings is not realistic?

This is NOT what drowning looks like. (Source: Mario Vittone)

When a person has actually reached the point of drowning (as opposed to being in distress in the water), he or she will be unable to wave or shout for help because the Instinctive Drowning Response will have been triggered, which means that he or she will be unable to do these things to draw attention.

So, if you haven’t read it before, I suggest you read this article by Mario Vittone now: Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning It may be the most important thing you read all year.

This is what drowning really looks like. (Source: Mario Vittone facebook page)

And if you don’t want to read the full article, at least read Mario’s closing comment – the most important piece of advice of all:

Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents – children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.