A carefree summer afternoon at the pool turned into a life‑threatening emergency when 7-year-old R.J. slipped beneath the water. What happened in just a few seconds forever changed how his family views water safety—and gave R.J. a powerful message to share with others.
A split second no one expects
Like so many kids his age, R.J. had spent his summer at the pool with friends. He felt comfortable in the water, even without having taken swimming lessons. That afternoon, he was floating on a pool noodle when, in a split second, he slipped off the noodle and fell into the water. R.J. remembers shouting for his mom as he went under. Seeing her son struggling, his mom jumped back in immediately and pulled him to safety.
“No parent thinks this is going to happen to them,” said his mom, Jerika. “I didn’t have time to think. All I heard was my child screaming, and I just acted.”
Jerika took R.J., who was in a state of shock, to the emergency department at Phoenix Children’s. Although they were at the hospital for only a couple of hours, the care and attention from their care team brought immense comfort during an overwhelming moment. R.J. recovered without complications, but the experience left a lasting impact on him and his mom.
- No parent thinks this is going to happen to them. I didn’t have time to think. All I heard was my child screaming, and I just acted.JerikaMother
Choosing knowledge over fear
Jerika realized something important: Despite her best intentions, she wasn’t as educated about water safety as she believed. In the months that followed, R.J. and his mom took action. They became water‑safety certified through the Injury Prevention Program at Phoenix Children’s and completed CPR and first aid training.
Injury Prevention, a donor-funded program, offers classes across the Valley where families and caregivers can learn about how to reduce drowning risk and how to properly fit and put on a life jacket. Thanks to generous supporters, free life jackets are given to all participating kids. In 2025, 657 parents and caregivers attended water safety classes, and 912 life jackets were distributed.
A simple message that could save a life
Today, R.J. remains energetic and determined, with a dream to one day play in the NFL. When he reflects on his experience, his advice is simple and powerful: “Never go into water without a life jacket or an adult.”
Your generous support makes more moments possible for kids like R.J.
