A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, I want to do my part to spread it around. It's a life or death matter to know that drowning people are usually not able to cry out for help. Read carefully and pass it along, especially to anyone with children, or a boat, or a pool or a neighborhood pond, etc. Too many people drown who could be saved. http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

Also on that site is this useful information about lifeguards. http://mariovittone.com/ My sons worked as lifeguards when they were high school kids, and if I'd read this then, I would have paid more attention. I'm pretty sure the pool where they worked was managed according to these guidelines, but many are not.

Have a safe summer, everyone.

Thanks!!

Thank you for this. I will send it onwards to everyone I know. This is about the best description of drowning and what is happening that I've ever seen.

You just might have saved several lives by sharing this.

Thank you for posting that. We live near several lakes and enjoy them in the summer. This past, our community has lost 2 young people to drowning. One was a 14 year old girl and the other was a 24 year old man. Both were good swimmers. So sad and tragic.

Thank you. I remember, as a 5 year old, rolling in the surf 3 times, unable to get myself out. My Mom was about 3 feet from me and thought I was 'riding the wave'. The 3rd time, the surf washed me further up on the beach and left me there. That was my lucky day.

This article will help me this summer when my Grandkids visit.

Thank you for posting...I never knew that :(

Wow. It makes sense after reading it. I've seen it before (close calls not actual drowning just so you know) but, never put two and two completely together.

It's so right about expecting what we see on t.v.

I sent this to my DS and DIL as they have a boat and take the boys 2 and 5 out a lot. Hopefully they never experience this but the info is good to know.

Thank you for posting this, i almost drown as a little girl from one of my friends pulling me under because she was having difficulty swimming, and it is literally about 10 seconds , and you do not surface much, and you can't really call for help. Its nice to be reminded since i have a little one and never want her to go through that ordeal

Thank you for posting, I never knew.