Parents' Close Calls Caught On Film Are Important Reminders Of Poolside Dangers
June 25, 2018

These parents thought they'd successfully safeguarded their pools for their toddlers. One family even purchased an "unclimbable" pool ladder. But after security cameras revealed some terrifyingly close calls, these parents are sending out a pool ladder warning so others don't make the same mistake.
The sun and warm weather bring along lots of opportunities for fun. But parents need to be mindful of Summertime dangers, as well. And two families are speaking out about the lessons they've learned in the hopes it will help other parents.
Pool Ladder Warning -- 2 Toddlers Nearly Drown
Tanah Zuniga and Karly James are sisters. And they both got the scare of their lives during a visit at Tanah's new house in Fort Worth, Texas.
RELATED: Olympian Bode Miller Promotes Water Safety After 19-Month-Old Drowns
While Karly and Tanah were catching up in the kitchen, Karly's 2-year-old son, Jalen, and Tanah's 17-month-old son, Elijah, somehow managed to unlock the back door.
Despite not knowing how to swim, the two boys made a beeline straight for the above ground pool.
Credit: Youtube/WFAA NewsJalen climbed right up the pool ladder, followed immediately by little Elijah. Both boys plunged into the pool and while Jaden was able to stay afloat, Elijah sunk right to the bottom.
The harrowing minutes were captured by security cameras. You can see 2-year-old Jalen trying to rescue his baby cousin without success. He gets out of the water and heads back inside to alert his mom.
And when the two sisters saw Jalen, soaking wet, they knew Elijah was in trouble.
Tanah raced outside. Finding her son floating lifeless in the pool had to have been sheer torture.
The terrified mom scooped her son's limp body out of the water, realizing they needed to act quickly.
"When we pulled him out of the water, he was already gone. He was completely blue. His lips were white. He was not moving. He was not breathing," Karly recalled. "All I knew was to give him air."
Tanah called 911 while Karly started CPR, a training she'd received years ago. Elijah had been in the water for around five minutes, so it was going to take a miracle.
Pool Ladder Warning Follows Miraculous Recovery
As Karly performed CPR, the two sisters prayed to God for help.
"I begged God to bring my baby back because he had no life in him," Tannah said.
RELATED: 2-Year-Old Twins Were Facedown In The Pool, Then 6-year-Old Jumps In
And then, something amazing happened. Elijah started coughing up water!
"I was here, and I was the hands and the feet on earth, but God used me and my two-year-old to save him. There is no other explanation," Karly said.
But Elijah's mom and aunt know exactly who they have to thank for their happy ending.
"God brought my baby back. I truly believe that," Tanah said.
And the two sisters realize the terrifying ordeal could easily happen to any other parent. It's something they don't want to happen.
"It was the worst experience of my life. You never think it's going to happen to you," Tanah said.
WATCH: A Miracle After 2 Toddlers Climb Pool Ladder
And that's why these brave moms are sharing their story. They hope the pool ladder warning may save other parents from living through such a nightmare.
Pool Ladder Warning -- Toddler Scales 'Unclimbable' Ladder
Another family in Massachusetts is sharing a similar message. Thankfully, their experience wasn't as traumatic as Tanah's. But the video of their close call carries with it an important message, too.
Credit: Facebook/WPED NewsKeith Wyman and his wife thought they'd successfully safeguarded their aboveground pool after purchasing a special pool ladder. This ladder included a safety gate advertised to make the structure "unclimbable."
However, while out in the backyard with his 2-year-old son, Cody, Keith soon learned he couldn't count on this product to keep his son safe.
Keith made sure to film the incident so he could warn others. As he kept a close eye, his determined little boy went right up to the "unclimbable" ladder and scaled it with relative ease.
Had his parents not been there to stop him, there's no question Cody would have wound up in the pool. And that's why Keith and his wife wanted to share this important pool ladder warning.
RELATED: Mom Shares Story Of Baby’s Near Drowning As Water Safety Reminder
While it's a good idea to have security measures like locked gates, it's important not to rely on them to do the job of keeping your child safe.
Here are some tips to help prevent accidental pool drownings:
Water Safety Tips For Parents
- Learn CPR
- Never leave a child unsupervised in or near a pool
- Teach children to swim as soon as possible
- Fence pools in and include self-closing and self-latching gates
- Install an alarm on any house doors leading to the pool
- Install a rigid, motorized safety cover to go over the pool when it’s not in use
- Remove ladders from above ground pools when it’s not in use
- Remove toys after swimming so they don’t tempt little ones back to the pool
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Tragic Deaths Are Important Reminders Of Just How Deadly Rip Currents Can Be
Please be sure to share this story with all the parents and grandparents you know as a reminder of the importance of pool safety!
h/t: ABC News / The New York Post
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Grace and Unity in Blended Families This Father's Day - Your Daily Prayer - June 15
In the unique rhythms of blended families, God brings purpose, healing, and love that holds every heart on Father's Day.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Grace and Unity in Blended Families This Father's Day - Your Daily Prayer - June 15
In the unique rhythms of blended families, God brings purpose, healing, and love that holds every heart on Father's Day.
Past Stories
- Vietnam Vet Passes Away, His Mailman Rushes to Adopt His Dog
- 4-Year-Old Called a Hero After Teacher Collapses at Daycare, and She Knows Exactly What to Do
- After 100-Mile Journey, Including a Swim, Missing Golden Retriever Mix is Finally Back Home
- Life Delayed Her Dream, But Didn’t Deny it. At 88, She Became a Graduate, and Witness to God’s Timing
- Gary Sinise Opens Up About His Son’s Death and the Gift of Grandfatherhood
- Young Girl is Saved by Good Samaritan After Falling 15 Feet Into a Waterfall
- Retired Alaska State Trooper Helps Rescue Husband Pinned by 700-lb Boulder
- 9 Year Old Boy Saves Mom and Newborn Sister By Calling 911, 'My Mom Could Have Died'
- Police Escort Paralyzed Teen to Prom Years After Childhood Shooting
- Young Boy in Wheelchair Walks at His Kindergarten Graduation, Surprising His Family
- Woman Credits Her Faith After Tire Flies Through SUV Windshield in Near-Death Crash
- 98-Year-Old Twins Cherish Life, Love, and Faith While Living Next Door to One Another
- Airman Served in WW2, Now He is Finally Coming Home 81 Years After He Died
- Teens Are Heroes After Saving Family From Fire On Their Prom Night
- She Survived 3 Weeks Lost in the Wild, Fighting Off Animals and Snowstorms
- Triplets Graduate From Texas Tech Together, All Earning Degrees in Media and Communication
- She Lost Her Son's Baby Book, But It Was Returned to Her at the Right Moment
- Man and His Dog Reunited After Being Hit by Drunk Driver
- Nurse With Caring Spirit Says Yes to Dying Mother's Wish For Her Son, and It's Beautiful
- She Never Told Her Friends She Was the School Mascot, Then Shares Her Secret at Graduation
- Mom Donates Kidney to Daughter, Now They’re Graduating Nursing School Together
- Grieving Son Finds Kindness When Trying to Print a Photo of His Mother Who Just Passed Away
- Nebraska Mom Raised Concerns About Husband's Mental Health Before Tragic Murder-Suicide
- Brothers Discover 1976 Message in a Bottle, Then Find the Man Who Wrote It
- California High School Discovers They Have 14 Sets of Twins in Their Graduating Class
- Paralyzed Pup Tyrion Finds New Life With a Doggie Wheelchair
- Autistic 8-Year-Old Boy Goes Missing, Found by Water Thanks to Quick Response
- Two Nurses Come to the Rescue of a Teen Girl in the Process of Being Kidnapped
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Bill and Gloria Gaither Guy Penrod's Stirring Live Performance of 'Then Came The Morning'

Chris Tomlin Chris Tomlin’s Powerful Live Rendition of ‘The First Hymn’ Will Stir Your Soul

Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Wows With 'God and Country' Live Performance

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

toby mac TobyMac's 'Nothin' Sweeter' Official Lyric Video
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.