In a distressing incident that underscores the potential dangers of swimming pools, a mother is bravely sharing her story to illuminate a risk often overlooked by many families. Her aim is to prevent others from experiencing a similar harrowing ordeal.
While vacationing in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote during the Easter break, Sarah Johnson and her family faced a nightmare when their 6-year-old daughter, Lily, nearly drowned—not due to her swimming ability, but because of an unexpected hazard. In a widely shared Facebook post, Johnson recounted that while swimming, Lily’s hair became entangled in the pool’s waterfall filter. This horrific situation left her trapped underwater for over two minutes, unable to surface for air.
“Some incredibly courageous individuals worked to save our daughter that day,” Johnson described. “Her hair was yanked repeatedly before it finally broke free. Lily was unconscious and needed CPR right at the poolside.”
Unfortunately, their troubles did not end there. Lily was quickly transported to a medical facility where she underwent x-rays and various tests, remaining overnight for monitoring. “Her oxygen levels were alarmingly low, and there was a significant amount of fluid on her right lung,” Johnson stated.
The Johnson family counts themselves lucky that Lily was discharged the next day, but they are painfully aware that the outcome could have been far worse. “That day was the most traumatic experience of our lives. We are still processing the events, but we feel incredibly fortunate to have our brave little girl with us,” she reflected.
Currently, the Johnsons are grappling with what they perceive as a lack of adequate response from the hotel management while simultaneously advocating for increased awareness regarding this hidden danger in pools. “We want to educate as many people as possible about the risks associated with swimming pools, as we feel strongly about this issue,” they emphasized.
Elizabeth Klinefelter, a campaign leader for Pool Safely—a government initiative aimed at promoting water safety—expressed to POPSUGAR that the federal drowning prevention program strongly advocates teaching children to avoid drains, suction outlets, and filters in pools and spas. “It’s not just hair that can get snagged; limbs, jewelry, and bathing suits are also at risk,” she added. Parents and guardians should never permit children to enter pools or spas with loose, broken, or missing drain covers.
Despite the enactment of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act in 2008, which mandates safer drain covers in public pools, residential pools are not subject to the same requirements. Klinefelter noted that while it is encouraged for residential pool owners to install safer covers, there have still been 17 recorded cases of entrapment incidents between 2012 and 2016, predominantly involving children.
This is why the Johnsons are so intent on spreading their message about the lurking dangers. “We don’t want any other families to endure what we went through. While we may never fully recover from that day, if our experience can raise awareness and potentially save a life, then it’s worth sharing,” they concluded.
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In summary, the Johnson family’s experience serves as a critical reminder of the unseen dangers that can exist in swimming environments and the importance of vigilance and safety measures to protect children.
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