The Drowning Files

With recent arrests in the case of the Matthew Perry drowning, we re-visit this tragedy. Matthew Perry passed away in a hot tub in 2023 at the age of 54. Hot tub risks are discussed.

Four divers died while cave diving in the Maldives this month. Dr. Tom Griffiths describes how cave diving can pose significant risks. He also explains his own experiences with cave diving and close call.

Distractions contributed to a missing 3 year old. He was not expected to be by the water and a search ensued.

This case occurred years ago. It was at a small pool at a camp. A girl disappeared under the water with lifeguards on-duty.

Special Guest Madison Marchegiano started a foundation to save lives after the drowning of a childhood family friend. Today, Madison joins the podcast to tell Colt's story and help raise awareness to prevent future drownings.

Family swim turns tragic. A double drowning occurs. Dr. Tom explains how this could have been prevented.

Fiances are camping at a lake. He takes a dive into the lake. Hear what happens next.

A couple walked away from their baby at the beach. Action was taken quickly from bystanders.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses an attractive venue that can be dangerous. Retention ponds attract wildlife, but unfortunately kids sometimes too. He details the dangers in this case.

Dr. Tom discusses a case where no chlorine was found. Dangers from bacteria can run rampant. How this can happen and how to prevent it is discussed.

A recent mishap on a water slide on a cruise ship. The clear panel breaks. A man falls through.

A Bahamas vacation goes awry, when a snorkeler is hit by the boat. Suggestions for safer boating and swimming are discussed.

Dr. Tom Discusses the recent recalls by the CPSC for above ground pools. The dangers of the straps for inflatable pools are discussed. Hear about what action should be taken.

A lifeguard taking down an umbrella was injured. One key mistake is noted. Suggestions for caution are provided.

Sometimes drowning is not the primary reason a person dies in the water. Quick rescue is always needed. Often the cause of death is called a drowning, but drowning is really secondary.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a high-risk seasonal rash of tragedies involving graduation. Graduates and potential graduates often gravitate towards the open water for celebrating. Tips for prevention are discussed.

A high school swim class was in session. The student had epilepsy and drowned. Suggestions for prevention are discussed.

This case involves a float tank. It was intended to have health benefits, but instead ended in tragedy. Other "health" trends are discussed.

A 14 year old boy drowns in the deep end. There are a host of issues. It is not known if he could have been saved.

A drowning in an above ground pool begs warnings for this type of pool safety. Little ones can often find their way into the pool unattended. Toys and storage can be a problem.

Dr. Tom tried recreating the water slide ride that resulted in a broken ankle. He walks through trying to figure this out. Suggestions for using water slides to avoid injury are provided.

This case involves an accidental drowning by a swim instructor. They thought the child was okay, based on how they usually played. Find out what ended up happening.

A mother and daughter attempt to swim to a platform in the water. The daughter struggles. The lifeguards go on a search for her.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a hotel pool case. There was cloudy water and other issues. Solutions for prevention are provided.

When you go to the pool with more than one child, there can be a lot of distractions. Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a case at an indoor facility. A lot was done right, but a lapse still proved fatal.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a recent case at a nice, outdoor pool. The pool used pool management services. An 18 year old was visiting the family and wasn't able to swim.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a case involving a fall from a 3-meter board. Possible outcomes are discussed. Learn how to prevent falls.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a daycare drowning and a rash of other very recent drownings involving kids with Autism. Strategies for prevention are discussed. Why awareness is needed of the problem with Autism and Drowning is emphasized.

An experienced swimmer visited a lake with her family. She dove into shallow water, she survived with some injuries. It was argued she should have known better.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses a slip and fall case. Materials on decks are discusses. He also talks about the "bare foot" test.

Dr. Tom covers a waterfall case in a dense forest. Litigation is initiated, but not pursued. He discusses more details of the beginnings of a lawsuit.

This case was at a Hotel pool. The struggle was missed. There were layers of protection that could have been in place on all sides. The was was cloudy, which caused more danger.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses another quarry case. Suggestions for safer strategies are suggested. Drowning is preventable!

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses another tragic case. The facility and lifeguards made blunders in this case. We can learn from the mistakes made.

Dr. Tom discusses what happens when lifeguards are not trained properly. Lifeguards are an important layer of protection, but you never know how qualified each is upon visiting an aquatic facility. Recommendations are provided.

This week Dr. Tom shares another lake case. The importance of lifeguards, but not relying on lifeguards is emphasized. Anyone attending water should look like a lifeguard, act like a lifeguard.

Attractions in the water can be fun and cute. However, they can also create distractions and obstructions. Strengthened supervision is always needed.

Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses another case in Pennsylvania. This happened in the open water and outside the swim area. Recommendations are provided.

This is an accident that happened while trying to dive through a tube. There were lifelong consequences. Dr. Tom Griffiths offers tips for safety while diving.

Dr. Tom discusses electrocution cases in hot tubs. He also addresses the dangers of clearing pools during lightning, and the importance of grounding and bonding pools/hot tubs. Open water with docks carry this risk too.

Dr. Tom discusses 2 specific rip current cases and how to get out of a rip current. Stay safe at the beach!

As students graduate, many head off for trips to celebrate. This is a case where a senior trip to a river goes wrong. Find out what happened.

Dr. Tom Griffiths and Dr. Rachel Griffiths discuss a case in which Dr. Tom was involved with the rescue while he was "off-duty". The importance of relaxation is covered, as well as medical conditions while SCUBA diving. Please be patient with our audio issues while traveling. This will be improved for future episodes.

Dunk the Straw was a game played at this lake for years. It was a tradition of sorts, that turned tragic. Dr. Tom Griffiths discusses the case.

Dr. Tom Griffiths explores a true story of a lifeguard going back to his roots. He shares his similar experiences returning to his roots from the 1960s and 70s getting started in lifeguarding.

Another birthday party ends in tragedy. Hear myriad of issues that went wrong. How lighting affected the tragedy will be discussed.

Dr. Tom discusses a case involving an above ground swimming pool that was 7ft deep. Grandparents attempt a rescue. They became victims too. What could be done differently?

A person was pushed in the pool. Friends that it was funny. Drowning happened in plain sight. The drowning process and remedial strategies are discussed.

A church group uses a residential pool for their gathering. What is meant to be a fun-filled day ends up in tragedy. A drowning with splashing goes unnoticed. Drowning is preventable.

This week Dr. Tom Griffiths and Dr. Rachel Griffiths talk about inherent hazards of quarries. There were several cases recently. The safety of different swimming areas is discussed.