Updated: April 6, 2021
Originally Published: May 28, 2015
On that scorching day when I dove into the pool in my cute floral spaghetti strap dress to rescue my daughter, the heat was such that sweat seemed to form instantaneously, making me feel sticky and uncomfortable. The sun was blazing, so I decided to dip my feet into the refreshing water to cool off.
It was one of those lovely early summer days, and my daughter’s entire preschool class had gathered at a friend’s house for a pool party to mark the end of the school year.
You never really know how you’ll react in a life-or-death situation. I had always thought I would be the type to freeze in panic while someone else swooped in to save my child.
Feeling a bit too confident, I figured my 4-year-old daughter would show off her swimming skills at the party. While many parents changed into their swimsuits to join their kids in the water, I chose to lounge on the sidelines.
“Wow, your daughter can swim already!” a friend remarked.
“Well, we have a pool, so she’s been swimming solo since she was two,” I replied with a proud smile.
And it was true! She could navigate from one end of the pool to the other with ease. I had faith in her abilities and felt reassured as she splashed around in the deep end, surrounded by both adults and kids. Little did I know, I was about to learn a harsh lesson.
Suddenly, I heard a faint cry for help. At first, I didn’t think much of it, squinting to spot my daughter amid the sun’s glare on the water. But then I heard the one thing no parent wants to hear when near a pool: a child was desperately calling for assistance. My heart sank as I realized it was my daughter!
How could this be? She was a strong swimmer. Had she panicked when she saw how far from the edge she was? I later learned that she was in what’s known as “aquatic distress,” a condition that occurs right before true drowning begins. During this brief but critical moment, a person can still call for help and thrash around, but this phase lasts only seconds before they go under for good.
I rose to get a better look, and that’s when I saw it. Her head dipped beneath the surface, and my heart raced. I knew I had to act fast. In a surreal moment that felt like time had slowed down, I jumped into the pool fully clothed and swam to her just as she began to sink.
I managed to pull her back to the edge, and thankfully, she was okay. We were both shaken and bewildered.
My daughter explained that another boy had been pulling her under by her curly hair. In his panic, he had reached for the first thing he could grab. His mother was just a few feet away, but her focus was on her other child—completely oblivious to what was happening. Despite the pool being filled with adults, no one noticed my daughter’s struggle or heard her cries.
It was a scary wake-up call. I had been overconfident about her swimming skills and failed to consider that another child could inadvertently put her in danger.
Now, ten years later, my daughter still remembers that frightening day vividly. She talks about it often, recalling how terrified she felt.
I now have four children to watch over while they swim, and I’m grateful for the lesson learned that day. I urge you to remember this: never take your eyes off young kids in the water, regardless of how skilled you believe they are. Always stay vigilant, even if there are other adults around.
Here are some crucial facts about drowning to keep in mind:
- Drowning is not the dramatic scene you see in movies; it’s often silent.
- Drowning individuals typically do not yell for help.
- They often don’t flail their arms either.
- A drowning person’s mouth goes under, then resurfaces without a sound.
- They stay upright in the water, struggling to breathe.
- A child can drown even when adults are nearby.
- The drowning response lasts only 20 to 60 seconds.
- From 1999 to 2010, nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. lost their lives to drowning.
Summer memories should be filled with carefree days spent splashing in pools, rivers, and oceans. It only takes a moment for a drowning to occur, so keeping a close watch over your kids can prevent tragic accidents.
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Summary:
A mother reflects on a terrifying incident when her daughter nearly drowned during a pool party, highlighting the importance of vigilance around water. She emphasizes that drowning often occurs silently and can happen even with adults nearby. The article serves as a reminder to always keep a close eye on children in aquatic environments, regardless of their swimming abilities.