What happens during a dry drowning incident?

During a dry drowning incident, the primary mechanism at play involves the spasm of the epiglottis, which is a flap that covers the trachea during swallowing. In dry drowning, the person may experience a laryngospasm – an involuntary reaction where the muscles around the vocal cords tighten, preventing both water and air from entering the lungs. This is a critical response as it attempts to protect the airway and minimize the risk of water entering the lungs, which is why this choice accurately describes the scenario.

This condition can lead to asphyxiation or hypoxia because, even though the individual is submerged, they are not able to take in air, and their oxygen levels can rapidly decline. Understanding this mechanism is essential for lifeguards and rescuers because they need to recognize the signs of dry drowning promptly, as it can occur even after the person is safely removed from the water.

Other choices describe different physiological processes that do not accurately reflect what occurs during a dry drowning event. For instance, suggesting that water fills the lungs after the epiglottis relaxes misrepresents the critical aspect of the airway protection involved in this type of drowning. Also, spontaneous breathing under water does not align with the conditions of dry drowning