A Chance of Dry Drowning?

Question

I was at the lake today and while I was inner tubing I swallowed some water. Maybe two big sips.

That was sometime from like 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM it's now 3 in the morning.

You think there is a chance I could dry drown?

Answer 1

Dry Drowning, or 'secondary drowning', is caused by water that has been aspirated.  The means it is in your lungs, not your stomach.  You are in no danger.

Secondary Drownings typically occur following a near drowning experience when a victim has been submerged or unconscious in the water for at least several seconds.  A conscious person blocks almost all water from getting into the lungs through an automatic response of the epiglottis, and with laryngeal spasms.  Water in the lungs is absorbed into the blood stream, and over time can change blood chemistry to the point of reducing its oxygen-carrying function.  

Unless you were nearly drowned to begin with, secondary drowning is unlikely, if not completely out of the realms of possibility.  Any near-drowning victim should be hospitalized for at least 24 hours following the experience and kept under observation, with the blood oxygen levels checked regularly.