In the popular Showtime series The Affair, a lead character is haunted by the dry drowning death of her young son. Interest in so-called dry drowning has accelerated in recent years, thanks in part to a handful of high-profile cases and fictionalized accounts. While the phenomenon of dry drowning is real, the term is a colloquialism--not a medical diagnosis.

Aspiration pneumonia has a mortality rate of 5%, and of 20% in populations with emphysema. The secretions patients aspirate are often contaminated with pathogens from the oral cavity, increasing the rate of morbidity and necessitating additional interventions and potentially long hospital stays. Prompt intervention is the key to preventing serious complications associated with aspiration pneumonia. Portable emergency suction can help prevent aspiration pneumonia, as well as its attendant complications.