Teen saves drowning toddler thanks to CPR she learned in school

A Thanksgiving miracle—a teenager saved a drowning toddler over the holiday weekend using CPR training she learned in school.

In California, where the weather is nice, Thanksgiving turkey comes with a side of swimming. But a family gathering turned terrifying for the Atkinson family, where 3-year-old Maxine fell into the pool, nearly lifeless after four minutes in there. But, teenager 15-year-old Madison Atkinson started performing CPR, which she’d learned in a sports medicine class.

When Maxine’s uncle found her and screamed for help, Madison came to the rescue. A few minutes into pumping on her chest, she opened her eyes and started breathing again, TODAY reports. 911 dispatchers instructed her to turn her on her side at that point, and she miraculously started to breathe on her own.

Relatives called the teen “calm, cool and collected” and dispatchers confirmed to the teen that she’d just performed a miracle, and that the outcome isn’t typically so positive.

“I was just like let’s get this baby alive,” Madison told TODAY, noting that nobody else knew CPR. Since, the whole family has committed to learning CPR.

Even in the winter, it can help everyone to brush up on CPR skills, especially around bodies of water kids aren’t usually used to during holiday travel.

The Red Cross gives specific directions for children and babies, for whom rescuers should give 30 compressions, at a fast rate of around 100 to 120 per minute. The main difference for children versus babies is for children you interlace your fingers, like you might have seen in the movies. For babies, however, you use two fingers. For small children in between those, you can use one hand. 

Ahead of family gatherings, ensure you know this essential lifesaving measure, just in case you find yourself in a situation like the Atkinson family.