Final answer:
Drowning is often silent, and the most appropriate response to drowning signs is to recognize the subtle cues, stay calm, alert a lifeguard or call for assistance, and use a flotation device to help the person if possible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that someone who is drowning will shout and wave for help is a myth. In reality, drowning is often a silent event as victims lack the spare breath to call out and cannot perform voluntary movements such as waving due to the instinctive drowning response. Instead, someone who is drowning is likely to show signs such as their mouth sinking below and reappearing above the surface of the water, having glassy or closed eyes, being vertical in the water without using their legs, and trying to roll onto their back.
The most appropriate response to initial CTD warning signs (Cold Water Immersion, Trouble, and Distress) during such silent drownings includes recognising these subtle signs, remaining calm, alerting a lifeguard or someone who can assist, and if trained, trying to remove the person from the water safely using a flotation device to avoid direct contact until professional help arrives.