Mothers have a sixth sense when it comes to tracking down a child in trouble. And Stephanie Swedberg’s was working overtime when she was at the Crystal Beach Park in Minnesota with her family. Hearing the cries of a desperate mom whose son was struggling in the water, Swedberg snapped into action and saved the boy from what could have been a tragedy, Fox 9 News reports.
Swedberg was 33 weeks pregnant when she decided to take her twin sons to the lake to teach them how to swim. Swim safety is pretty important for the mom, who is a former lifeguard and competitive swimmer, according to the report. “I’ve just known with these guys that I wanted them to learn how to swim as soon as possible,” she tells Fox 9 News.
Swedberg and her sister were mid-floating lesson when she suddenly saw a mom sprint into the water screaming for someone to help her son. That’s when she noticed one of the boys in the water was having trouble keeping his head afloat. “He was just thrashing around, bobbing a little bit," she says.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the expectant mom put her children in her sister’s care and swam over to help the youngster in danger. Luckily, the story has a happy ending and Swedberg was able to bring the boy back to safety, but she says it’s an important reminder on the importance of teaching young children how to swim. The boy reportedly only had a few swimming lessons prior to the incident. “I encouraged him to keep taking swimming lessons, and maybe become a lifeguard [himself],” she says.
In all her time as a lifeguard, that was Swedberg’s first-ever rescue—and at 33 weeks pregnant to boot.
Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury, according to the CDC. Every year, there are about 3,600 unintentional drownings in the US, which adds up to about 10 deaths per day. So, while a one-year-old may not be able to swim laps, they can learn the skills they need to get to safety in the event that they fall in a pool, for example. In fact, experts say the ideal time to introduce baby to swimming lessons is when they’re about six months old. That’s because at around 8 months of age, babies begin to develop a concept of fear, so if they’re already familiar with being in the water by then, all the better. Click here to check out The Bump’s full guide to baby swimming lessons.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
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