39. Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/family/2013/06/rescuing_drowning_children_how_to_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

In this article, Mario Vittone informs that it is difficult to notice when people are drowing, and presents the indications that a person might be drowning. As his introduction, he narrates a short recall of a story in which a lifeguard captain had saved a child from drowning while her parents had not noticed though they were less than 10 feet away from her. Vittone explains that when people actually drown, it rarely looks like the splashing and calling for help as they do in movies. Vittone refers to the theory of Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D, called "Instinctive Drowning Response" which involves no spashes, no calling for help nor any waving of the arms or legs. This reference provides a supporting evidence to his thesis through mentioning a professional in the topic. Statistics are also used to emphasize the magnitude of the problem of not being able to notice someone drowning. Vittone then listst the descriptions of the Instinctive Drowning Response as previously presented in Dr. Pia's article in the Coast Guard's On Scene magazine. In his conclusion, Vittone states, in summary, that "sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don't look like they're drowning."

Mario Vittone's intended audience for this article is anyone with minimum to medium education, especially adults. The purpose Vittone put into the article is to inform many people for greater safety and less accidents of drowning children right infront of the parents. Vittone successfully accomplishes his purpose using references to professionals and the technique of listing.