I saved a child today at the pool. She was swimming in the deep end and when I looked over at her she was going under coming up for air and then going under again. The other guard didn’t see her and I tried to reach her from the edge but she was too far to swim over at all; she just kept going under. I even tried to reach the towel that I happened to be holding out to her but it was just out of her grasp. Next thing I know I decided to just jump in and grab her. I pulled her to the side, got out, and then suddenly the other guard noticed us. He came over quickly and I let him take her along with one of the councilors while I went and got changed. She was okay, just a little shaken up.
It’s weird jumping in for someone in distress. At first it doesn’t seem like much, I mean just some wet clothes, and really when you think about it, it’s not much. However, at least this is what I found, afterwards my adrenaline was just flying. I felt like my heart was beating so fast and at the same time felt a little bit of the shock setting in myself. Then I let myself wonder if she really did need someone to jump in for her. I’m glad the other guard there assured me I did the right thing and the more I think about it the more I agree that there was really nothing I should have done differently. I felt the best about it when I was leaving from work this evening one of the councilors that was there (it was a day camp girl that was going under) said to me nonchalantly, “Thanks for saving that little girl today.” Saving someone is pretty cool, even if it is so minor as just jumping in the pool and pulling them to the side.