: For children, drowning is a leading cause of death, often occurring during "non-swim" times when they weren't even expected to be near the water. [2, 39]
: Look for heads low in the water, glassy or closed eyes, and a vertical body position without a supporting kick. [29, 32] Drowning
: These states are often compared to being pulled under by an invisible tide—silent, isolating, and exhausting. [5, 31, 7] : For children, drowning is a leading cause
: It is frequently described as a "burning sensation" as water enters the lungs. [34, 5] Some survivors recall a period of intense pain followed by a strange, detached calm or "bliss" as consciousness fades. [3, 16] : For children