MIDDLETOWN — Eight-year-old Hailey Ingram is a really good friend to have. Not only did she save her friend Dakota Smith’s life last week, this is the second time she saved her from drowning.
On Tuesday, June 16, Hailey and Dakota were playing in the Ingram family pool. Three-year-old Dakota was on an inner tube and slipped off. All her older friend saw was the girl’s hair sticking out of the water.
“So I jumped in and grabbed her because she can’t swim yet,” Hailey said.
Hailey pulled Dakota out of the pool and took her to her mom, who knew her daughter was in trouble after not seeing her elsewhere in the pool.
“She just slipped right down the middle of it. Before I had a chance to get to her, Hailey just jumped over the side,” said Keira Smith of Middletown, Dakota’s mother.
It was the second time Hailey saved Dakota from drowning. The first time came when she rescued Dakota from a hotel hot tub, Keira Smith said.
Hailey knew exactly what to do after eight months of lessons at Atrium Family YMCA. She graduated in May with honors, said Pam Drake, swim instructor.
As well as teaching how to swim, lessons include water safety, said Drake. In fact, the No. 1 cause of drowning is panic, she added. So in the final lessons, students learn to recognize when someone is in trouble or when they’re panicking.
Drake said this helped Hailey recognize Dakota was drowning because panic causes people to go silent and sink. When someone’s playing, they’re loud, she said.
“I’m very proud to say our class obviously works. She’s very aware of her surroundings,” Drake said.
The YMCA offers a variety of swim programs, including a one-week course that focuses on water safety, said Kevin Rapein, aquatic director. Last spring there were about 160 students in the program.
“That’s the YMCA’s mission as far as doing swim lessons,” Rapein said, referring to Hailey’s actions.
“She loves swimming, and she loves the water. I think she learned a lot from here,” said Tommy Ingram, Hailey’s father. Tommy and Nikki Ingram, Hailey’s mother live on Kenec Drive in Middletown.
Visit gmvymca.org to learn more about the YMCA.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2507 or clevingston@coxohio.com.
