My 7-Year-Old Almost Drowned Today
As I sit here at 2:17 a.m., I know that I should go to bed, but after the day’s event, I felt this incredible urge to briefly write about what happened today while at a friend’s pool party. I know this has nothing to do with home decor, but that’s not important right now. What’s important is that my beautiful 7-year-old almost drowned today.
Thankfully, he’s okay.
Miraculously, he didn’t even take in water. Even more miraculous is that he wasn’t shaken up enough to prevent him from going back into the water (albeit with a very tight life vest!). He ended the day with a smile and begging for a bag of Doritos as we drove away warm and dry, towards home.
Although I wasn’t too shaken up during the near-tragedy, as the day has worn on, I’m even more consumed with fear at what almost happened.
I was so vigilant to make sure that not one of my 3 boys (ages 7, 3, or 21 months) went near the water until Mommy was right next to them.
I was sitting there on the edge of the pool with my 21 month old in my lap, and my 3 year old on my right. I didn’t see my 7-year old slip off to the other side of the pool, which, honestly, wasn’t very deep. Just over 4 feet, maybe??
But as we all know, it doesn’t take a lot of water, does it?
My friend’s daughter and I started chatting about her coming home from college.
And after 30 seconds of conversation or less, I just happened to glance up at the other end, and I saw him struggling in the water, right next to the wall. I actually sat there for a second, thinking he was about to grab the wall.
But all I saw were arms flailing and his head bobbing under water.
The first thing that flashed through my mind was an article circulating last year about the 8 Quiet Signs of Someone Drowning, that said you never know when someone is drowning because it’s so quiet and very quick.
At that moment I jumped up and yelled out, “Get him!”
And my friend’s 19 year old daughter jumped in and saved him.
Ironically, I was calm.
All the things I would have thought would happen (my heart beating fast with an adrenaline boost, shaking from fear, etc.) didn’t happen. I approached him calmly and said, “OoOooohh…..” and he actually thought I was laughing at him, I guess because I was too lax in my response as he was near tears.
I placed my arm around him and assuaged any fears he might have had, then snuggled all my boys into life vests, and went on to have a great time in the pool with them.
But I couldn’t shake the fact that my baby almost drowned. 🙁
What was so ironic is that there were so many people standing around, talking, and some of them even in lounge chairs no more than 15 feet from the edge of the pool.
Yet, no one but me noticed.
I’m convinced it was divine intervention, at that moment, that I looked up. Maybe I subconsciously noticed he wasn’t nearby.
As I sit here early in the morning, with my hubby and boys sleeping, I have Googled “quiet signs of drowning,” and am horrified to learn that drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death for children ages 1-14, just behind car accidents.
They call is the “quiet death.” And, today I understand why. He made no noise. No one even knew.
I’m soooo thankful my son is okay. But I keep playing the horrible “What if?” in my mind….What if I hadn’t looked over at that moment and he slipped below the water? How long would it have been before I noticed he was gone?
Before even going to the pool party, I was super vigilant of the fact that we were walking into a danger zone, simply because my boys have never learned how to swim.
Bad mommy, I know. But logistically, I have never been able to teach them (lack of pool, and supervision to teach them).
So I knew to be more mindful of each of their whereabouts. And because hubby wasn’t there, I knew I was at a disadvantage being the only pair of eyes that could watch all 3 of them (which was very hard to do).
But thank God, the day ended well.
Tonight we carried on like it was a regular night (albeit the night before school starts), with me not trying to hype up the event and scare him. But I was even more acutely aware of his beautiful life as he triple hugged me before going to bed tonight. And all the while I kept thinking of what almost happened.
So, I know that summer is just about over, but please, please, be extremely careful around water. Here’s a few reminders when you’re around water with kids.
Let my experience be a reminder just how serious this can be.
Always Remember…..
1. Never ever take your eyes off of kids. Not even for a second. It happened so quickly today. One second he was there. The next I saw him flailing his arms. I was distracted by the brief conversation. And in that moment, he slipped away. Never again.
2. Always put your kids in a life vest. Even if you don’t think the water is that high, do it. No matter what.
3. Do NOT talk or text. I live with my phone in hand. But this is one circumstance where you just cannot.
4. Watch other people’s children. I’m sure the last thing you want at a pool party is to keep an eye on other people’s children. But if we all just take special note of the children and where they are at all times, it might be easier to prevent accidents.
5. Don’t be outnumbered. I was there with 3 kids who didn’t know how to swim. I could call myself stupid. But that won’t get me anywhere, will it? If you’re at a pool with kids, always have help in looking at the kids. If hubby could have come and wasn’t working, two sets of eyes would have been better than one.
6. Get swim lessons. At this point, there’s no reason why kids shouldn’t know how to swim. It could probably one of the best things they’ll ever learn. I’m making appointments ASAP for lessons.
Thanks for reading!
Now I’m going to go kiss my baby goodnight.
Photo: Courtesy Free Digital Photos
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Here is a video I think all parent should watch……
http://youtu.be/v0mUPr68x2U
Great post. I have three boys too-6. 5. and 2. My 6 year old swims very well but the other two do not swim independently at all. We put a pool in our yard last year and It had been both awesome and so stressful. I have it fenced, alarmed, etc. The boys know there is NO forgiveness as far as going in the pool gate without an adult-it’s enforced very strictly and harshly. My 5 and 2 years olds know they are not allowed in the gated area without their “floaties” (Coast guard approved floats) on…can’t even walk in the gate. Even with all that I’m still paranoid about it. You’re definitely right about not being able to be distracted-hard for us bloggers! Thanks for posting this-really touched me and I’m so glad your son is ok and totally understand your feelings of “what if?”
Oh, Serena, that must have been the worst feeling! I totally understand reacting calmly at the time, and then having the gravity of the situation – what happened and what might have happened – hit you over the course of the day. Hugs and love to all five of you, and so grateful your friend’s daughter was able to jump in!
I am so sorry! I read this article several years ago and it made a big impression – http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/ Drowning doesn’t look like drowning.
I am glad everything is okay now.
Thank you for sharing your story. I have shared it o my Facebook page. Before I was born, my mother lost her only child, a seven year old, to drowning in a public pool.
So glad he’s okay. In Arizona and in my current city they offer free lessons b/c so many children drown. I personally cannot swim therefore I never take them to the pool unless my husband is with us. My two oldest can swim but the 8 year old hasn’t learned yet. I never go to pool parties for children and once when my mother in law asked if she could take them to one I told he no. She ended up calling me that evening saying that was the right decision b/c a 2- year old kept falling in the pool (who couldn’t swim). That child’s Grandma was too preoccupied catching up with friends and eventually called her son to pick up the drenched baby :/.
How scary! You know, I read that article on drowning that made it’s way around Facebook too. I was extra vigilent this year because of that, as I’m sure many others were as well. I’m so glad everything is ok!
Hi sweet lady! I’m another one of the kids who almost drowned that was over 50 ys ago and I still remember it like it was now. One thing you can be sure of is that was no accident yoh looked over and just happened to remember the 8 signs of the silent struggle. Hugs and si glad you were there. Dont be surprised when he wants to talk about it. Its a silent struggle for years to come. Hugs!
I had goose bumps as I read your story. There have been several drownings in our area lately. One thing I do believe is that it was no accident or coincidence that you looked when you did. An angel, or God Himself was whispering in your ear. And you listened. And I mean no disrespect to any parent who didn’t see their child in time. I am not accusing them of not hearing the whisper. Its one of those mysteries we will never understand. Why some are taken, and some spared. Its just the way it is. So I am so very happy for you and your family that you little boy is still with you today. Thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully it can save more lives.
Oh my, I am so glad that everything turned out to be okay! As a kid, I almost drowned (my brother saved me) and I can still remember the experience. It has made me super vigilant with my kids, especially making sure that they learned how to swim early on. Even so, one day, I found myself jumping into a pool fully clothed, as my son had slipped off the raft he was playing on with a bunch of other kids, into the deep end. It only took a second, and he knew how to swim, but I think he panicked. There were 6 other kids in the area, and my husband was in the water at the other end of the pool, but only I saw him struggling. Even as I type, my heart is pounding a little faster remembering how close we came to a tragedy. He just went back to swimming, and laughing at me for being wet in my clothes. I’ll say a prayer of thanks that your boy is safe, and that you are able to kiss him good night, and not good bye. xoxo
OMG, your last line just brought tears to my eyes. 🙁 Thank God, thank God, thank God! And what you said about your child knowing how to swim but panicked is so important. I always wonder how somehow who knows how to swim could die in water (not to include under currents or anything), and I understand now–panic. Even children who know how to swim must be watched like a hawk for that very reason. I’m glad everything was fine on your end, as well. WHEW!