Why is this so important?
In the summer of 2016, my family and I embarked on a trip to the Hawaiian Island of Maui. We stayed there for about two weeks. During my time in Maui, I experienced a life altering event.
It was a few days before I was scheduled to leave, so I was spending as much time as possible out on the beach. As I was laying out in the sun, reading a book, I saw a helicopter fly right over my head. A few seconds later a coast guard jet ski sailed past my in the water. My family and I were curious as to why the helicopter and jet ski were out so we decided to follow them down the beach. After walking for a little while we came to a small crowd of people. We quickly realized there was something wrong and were told that someone had gone under the water. I remember watching the jet ski move frantically in circles on the water. It slowed and then came racing back to shore. It was then that I realized there was a body on the back of the jet ski. The EMS responders and the lifeguards quickly began CPR and hooked up the victim to iv's. After about 45 minutes of CPR, the rescuers stopped the compressions and pronounced the victim dead.
I later learned that the victim could have been saved had there been a flotation device around. It was devastating to see with my own eyes just how quickly a day of fun in the water can turn deadly. From then on I have been inspired to spread awareness on swimming safely. I do not want forget the victim who could have lived if there had been a flotation device.
My innovation can help to eliminate some of the risk of drowning in natural water settings, but not all of it. Always make wise decisions when out in the water and never forget those who never made it back to shore.
It was a few days before I was scheduled to leave, so I was spending as much time as possible out on the beach. As I was laying out in the sun, reading a book, I saw a helicopter fly right over my head. A few seconds later a coast guard jet ski sailed past my in the water. My family and I were curious as to why the helicopter and jet ski were out so we decided to follow them down the beach. After walking for a little while we came to a small crowd of people. We quickly realized there was something wrong and were told that someone had gone under the water. I remember watching the jet ski move frantically in circles on the water. It slowed and then came racing back to shore. It was then that I realized there was a body on the back of the jet ski. The EMS responders and the lifeguards quickly began CPR and hooked up the victim to iv's. After about 45 minutes of CPR, the rescuers stopped the compressions and pronounced the victim dead.
I later learned that the victim could have been saved had there been a flotation device around. It was devastating to see with my own eyes just how quickly a day of fun in the water can turn deadly. From then on I have been inspired to spread awareness on swimming safely. I do not want forget the victim who could have lived if there had been a flotation device.
My innovation can help to eliminate some of the risk of drowning in natural water settings, but not all of it. Always make wise decisions when out in the water and never forget those who never made it back to shore.