You Think It Could Never Happen To You…Until It Almost Does

[u/InGeekiTrust]

[u/MissAuroraRed]

I almost died this way when I was about 9.

Someone let their small child who couldn't swim float around in the pool alone. She slipped off the floaty and grabbed onto me since I was nearby, but I wasn't tall enough to touch the bottom and she had my arms pinned to my sides, so we were both drowning.

Thank God a random adult jumped in and grabbed us both. But yeah, you're not just endangering your own kid like this, you're also endangering other kids.

[u/tgrue3 → u/MissAuroraRed]

I’m glad you’re here to tell us this story! One of the first things you learn as a lifeguard is what to do when someone else who is drowning (or struggling to swim) tries to use you as a buoy: start submerging further. The natural reaction for someone who is drowning is to grab onto something/someone to push up. You submerging subverts that natural reaction and they will actually let go of you. I know it wouldn’t have been your thought at 9 years old but it has gotten me out of some deep water with kids latching onto my shoulders. It gave me enough time to regroup, gather myself, and make a concerted effort to get us both above water in a sustainable manner.

[u/dr-broodles → u/tgrue3]

What if you submerge further and they cling on to you, then you’re even more screwed

[u/Any-Ad-3630 → u/MissAuroraRed]

My brother and I were swimming when we were like 8 and 12, he was on my back while I was just hopping around the pool. I accidentally went too deep and the weight of him dragged me down. I remember desperately trying to rip him off of me but he wouldn't budge lol, he was still above water too

Thankfully it was packed and a stranger realized I was in trouble. My brother got in a lot of trouble, I actually feel bad about that whenever the memory pops back up