Drowning Doesn’t Look Like You Think It Does
7/24/2025
Michael Fraley, Aspirus Trauma Registrar, Oneida Co. Public Safety Dive Team Leader
As families head to
lakes, rivers, and pools, a local trauma expert is reminding everyone that
drowning is often fast, silent, and far more common than many realize.
World Drowning
Prevention Day, observed annually on July 25, highlights the urgent need for
water safety education. According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), an estimated 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings occur in the
United States each year. That’s about 11 deaths per day. An additional 8,000
nonfatal drownings are treated in emergency departments annually.
“The biggest thing
we want to make people aware of is that drowning doesn't look like you think it
does,” said Michael Fraley, Trauma Registrar at Aspirus Health and Team Leader
of the Oneida County Public Safety Dive Team. “It doesn't look like what we see
on television or in movies, or even in cartoons. It's a really silent action.
People aren't able to make noise when they're drowning… they can't breathe, so
they can't make noise.”
Fraley noted that a
drowning person typically won’t wave or scream for help. Instead, they’re
typically upright in the water and struggling to stay afloat. “If they're still
moving in a swimming position, they're probably okay,” he said. “But if they’re
upright and not being effective or efficient, that’s concerning.”
In most cases,
bystanders have less than a minute to respond when someone is in distress in
the water. According to Fraley, a drowning person can submerge in as little as
20 to 60 seconds after showing signs of struggle. Immediate action is critical.
The safest approach is to use a rescue aid, such as a life jacket, swim buoy,
or even a pool noodle, to extend flotation to the person without putting the
rescuer at risk. Public beaches and pools often have designated rescue
equipment nearby, and knowing where these are located can save valuable time in
an emergency.
Children are
especially vulnerable. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages
one to four, according to the CDC, and the second leading cause of
unintentional injury death for kids five to 14.
Fraley also leads
the Oneida County Public Safety Dive Team, a group formed after a local
drowning tragedy. With over 1,100 lakes in Oneida County alone, the team plays
a critical role in underwater rescue and recovery efforts.
“All of our divers
go through open water dive training,” Fraley said. “We train them to use dry
suits, dive at night and in low visibility, do deep diving, ice diving… It
takes almost a full year to get a new diver on board and fully trained.”
This World Drowning
Prevention Day, Fraley hopes people take a moment to recognize how quickly
drowning can happen and how being prepared and informed can save lives.
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