OT / Drowning facts needed

Never saw this one before on a trctor site I'll bet!

Last weekend we helped drag the Mississippi. I was explaining that there was only a few tablespoons of water in the lungs of a drowning victum. I was the buut of jokes the rest of the event.

I learned this thirty years ago at a drowning school, and now I wonder if it is correct. I tried the Google thing, but it seems hard to sort out where to actualy find it.

Other things like women are face up, men are face down, seemed to get alot of laughter.

Any ideas where to find the truth?

I hate to loose a argument, so it is important that I can yell ---in your face buddy.

Any help will be apreciated.

here is a portion from wikipedia on drownng. you can also find info in any of the american red cross training manuals on lifesaving or first aid books.

Water inhalation
If water enters the airways of a conscious victim, the victim will try to cough up the water or swallow it, thus inhaling more water involuntarily. Upon water entering the airways, both conscious and unconscious victims experience laryngospasm, that is the larynx or the vocal cords in the throat constrict and seal the air tube. This prevents water from entering the lungs. Because of this laryngospasm, water enters the stomach in the initial phase of drowning and very little water enters the lungs. Unfortunately, this can interfere with air entering the lungs, too. In most victims, the laryngospasm relaxes some time after unconsciousness and water can enter the lungs causing a "wet drowning". However, about 10-15% of victims maintain this seal until cardiac arrest. This is called "dry drowning", as no water enters the lungs. In forensic pathology, water in the lungs indicates that the victim was still alive at the point of submersion. Absence of water in the lungs may be either a dry drowning or indicates a death before submersion.

I've recovered male and female drowning victims. All I remember were face down.

A person learns something everyday!
Thanks Glennster

Tom