Published August 5, 2009 in The Joplin Globe

Pool workers relieved by successful rescue

Lindsey Wells, former CJ student-athlete, others credited with saving life
By Debby Woodin, The Joplin Globe

Training kicked in to get pool workers through a life-threatening situation Sunday when a 10-year-old girl nearly drowned at the Ewert Family Aquatic Center but was resuscitated.

Pool operator Lindsey Wells (CJ Class of 2007) and lifeguards Colleen Harris and Jami Mayberry are credited with saving the life of Ranesha Smallie,Debby Woodin 8/4/09 stet of Joplin, according to a report of the Joplin Police Department and information from the city staff.

The girl reportedly was eating candy and had some in her mouth when she jumped into the pool. She choked on the candy and went under the water, where she evidently took in water. A lifeguard spotted the unconscious girl floating in the water and pulled her out.

“There was foam coming out of her mouth, which indicates there was water in her lungs,” Wells said. The pool workers found that she was not breathing.

Giving the girl breaths did not help, so the team performed chest compressions, cleared the girl’s mouth and applied suction to try to clear the water or obstructions from her airway.

“We got the liquid out of her mouth, put two more breaths in the airway, and the victim became conscious then,” Wells said.

Wells, of Carl Junction, had worked as a lifeguard at the pool for three years and as a head lifeguard for two years before being promoted to pool operator. She said she never before had performed a rescue.

“We didn’t really have time to think. We just had time to react,” she said. “It was scary. You have somebody’s life in your hands, and you just hope you are doing everything correct.”

When the swimmer revived, she was woozy and said she wanted to go home, Wells said. The girl was going in and out of consciousness, and when an ambulance crew arrived, workers applied an oxygen bag to help the girl breathe. That seemed to further revive the girl, Wells said.

Police reported that the girl was taken to Freeman Hospital West and later was dismissed.

A family member said Tuesday that the girl has fully recovered, but that the family did not wish to talk about the incident.

And, according to Wells, the pool crew also has recovered from the near tragedy.

“I was pretty shaken up,” she said. “I think the people all around all were (too). I think our hearts didn’t come back in our chests for a while. But I think everyone was ecstatic it worked.”