It's a bizarre incident that has made national headlines — a 10-year-old boy drowned, but it was hours after leaving his swimming pool. It’s what is known as ‘dry drowning.’

Johnny Jackson of South Carolina may have swallowed some water and choked while swimming, but he was fine when he walked home. What his parents didn't know is that water filled his lungs and he later died of asphyxiation.

Amy Milliman, the aquatic director for the YMCA in South Bend, knows the dangers all too well. She had a close call with her daughter in a hot tub.

"She walked off the step and got in serious trouble, [I] pulled her out and she regurgitated water for quite a while,” she said.

So what is dry drowning?

“A child gets submerged under water, he chokes and gags, he gets a little bit of water in his lungs,” explained Dr. Robert Evans of SJRMC. “He goes home, and because there's damage to his lung, he develops what’s called pulmonary edema. Basically the lung is really damaged and gets a lot of fluid built up in the lung itself and it causes asphyxiation and you die from that.”

According to medical examiners nearly 15 percent of drowning deaths across the U.S. occur out of the water.

Milliman says teach your kids to raise their left hand if they are taking in water.

"You have three lobes on your left side, it makes everything a little bit bigger, it clears up faster — they are less likely to regurgitate as they’re choking on water,” she said.

Dr. Evans says close supervision of your kids is key. Watch out for warning signs such as a stomachache, continuous cough, or even just not feeling right.

If you’re worried about your child's health don't hesitate to bring them into the ER. It's always better to be safe than sorry.