Swimming in cold water can be deceptively dangerous, as Heather Cassini discovered during a harrowing experience at New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach. This mom cautions others after her son, who was playing in the ocean, suddenly collapsed on the beach.
“I’m still shaking,” Heather said.
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The hot and humid day seemed ideal for a beach outing, but what began as a fun day quickly turned into a medical emergency. Heather’s 10-year-old son, Declan, had been enjoying the ocean but soon felt nauseated. Initially, Heather thought it was merely the result of too much excitement and waves, assuming Declan needed a break in the shade.
“I thought the breakfast was just too much for the waves and he just needed to lay down,” Heather wrote in her now-viral Facebook post. But Declan’s condition worsened when he became disoriented and collapsed, landing on a dozing sunbather. Heather, who is pregnant, struggled to help Declan as he went in and out of consciousness, vomited, and appeared extremely pale.
Fortunately, a group of compassionate women came to their aid. One got a lifeguard, while another called 911. “God bless all the people around us. There were so many nurses,” Heather said, grateful for the quick response. Paramedics diagnosed Declan with hypothermia caused by the ocean water, which was a chilly 52°F.
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“I had no idea that this could happen,” Heather said. “You think about sunburns and dehydration and all the things that can happen in the water, but I never considered cold shock.”
Dr. Christopher Kelly, chief of pediatric emergency medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, explains that water temperatures below 70°F can lead to hypothermia, even on a warm day. “Temperatures drop relatively quickly in kids, so that puts them at a higher risk for hypothermia,” Dr. Kelly says. Symptoms include confusion and slurred speech, which can occur as the body loses heat rapidly.
In the Bible, Psalm 91:11 offers comfort and assurance: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” This verse reflects how God’s protection can be revealed in our lives, often through the actions of others. On that day, it was as though God’s angels were at work through the quick actions of the bystanders and the lifeguard who helped Declan.
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Declan has since fully recovered, and Heather’s experience is a crucial reminder for all parents. “I’m sharing this to let others know about the dangers of cold water exposure,” Heather said. “It’s something we don’t often think about, but it can be just as dangerous as sunburn or dehydration.”
Heather’s quick thinking, combined with the help of others, was a powerful reminder of how God watches over us and uses ordinary moments to protect and guide us.
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Psalm 91:11 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”
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h/t: Today
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Heather Cassani