Toddler rescued after nearly drowning in pool

We’ve all been in situations where a few families are gathered and all the adults are looking after the kids and sort of not.

You’d think with so many eyes watching, things would be fine, but this can be a life-threatening situation, especially when kids are playing near water – at the beach, at a pool, or at the lake.

According to Nikki Jurcutz, life supports paramedic and first aid educator at Tiny Hearts, drowning is the leading cause of death in children between ages one and four.

But this kind of tragedy can be avoided if adults learn to use four important words.  

“This video was sent in by one of our followers. She’s a pediatric nurse and this is her little boy,” Nikki introduced a TikTok.

The video shows a toddler squatting down by the edge of a swimming pool.

Nobody else is in the frame until a little dog walks by and knocks the toddler into the pool.

“Just because there are a lot of adults around, that doesn’t mean active supervision is happening,” Nikki narrates.

Child nearly drowns in pool in spite of adults nearby

“The mom of the child was inside, and there were three adults by the pool, but not actively supervising the little one.”

As the toddler hits the water, someone starts screaming, alerting the adults that the little boy has fallen into the pool.

Three adults appear from off-camera; one leaps into the water and fishes the baby out.

Only a few seconds have passed, and he’s safe in Mom’s arms.

But the story could have been very different.

“In my job as a paramedic, I’ve heard so many people say, ‘I thought someone else was watching the child’,” Nikki explains.

There’s a way to solve this issue of adults not being sure who’s responsible for the kids, and Nikki says it just takes four words.

“When a pilot takes control of an aircraft, they say ‘I have control’, or ‘My airplane’. That’s the sentence used when control is transferred from one pilot to another.

“As parents, we need to do the same. Use the phrase ‘I’m on watch now’ to confirm who’s responsible.”

TikTok video about pool safety goes viral

The comments on the video were flooded with people sharing similar terrifying stories and near misses.

“I almost drowned as a three-year-old in a family pool on Christmas with MANY people standing around the edges. Presence does not equal watching,” one woman said.

Others pointed out that although no one was right next to the pool, the adults got to the little boy in seconds.

“The lady reacted immediately so I would say she was actively watching,” one person said.

But others disagreed.

“They got to him in five seconds. I had to count because even for me that felt long seeing that little baby struggling in the water,” one person said.

“If she was actively supervising he should never have been that close,” said another.

Some people said they employed the transfer of responsibility strategy with their own kids.

“This is something we have always done with our kids, now a grandchild. We name the person and wait for them to say back, “I got him/her,” then we can leave,” one person said.

“It’s a rule for me that a sober adult is always at arm’s length distance, especially around water. I get eye rolls, but I know it’s safest,” said another.

“My parents and family friends had a whistle that the responsible adult wore around their neck. They would swap between them and each take watches.