Katy Girl Scout Receives Lifesaving Award for Saving Drowning Toddler

KATY MAGAZINE NEWS

September 19, 2024

By Natalie Cook Clark

A 10-year-old Katy Girl Scout is being praised for her quick action that saved her cousin’s life during a near drowning event. Texas currently leads the nation in pediatric drowning deaths.

Photo credit: Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council

10-year-old Isabelle Carrasco had family and friends over to her Katy home last May to celebrate her birthday. The fun occasion quickly turned stressful on what could have happened after Isabelle jumped into the pool and saved her toddler cousin from drowning.

She Heard Spalshing and then Jumped in

“During the party, we did a pinata,” explains Isabelle. “During the pinata,

we gave all the kids a chance to hit the pinata, starting with the youngest. My cousin,

Giovanna, had her turn and then left the line.”

During the pinata no one was swimming so Isabelle immediately turned to look when she heard splashing. That’s when she saw that 2-year-old Giovanna, who could not swim, had jumped in the pool without any flotation support.

“Without thinking of my own safety, I jumped into the water after her, because I knew she needed help,” says Isabelle.

Once she had Giovanna, Isabelle got her to the side of the pool where one of troop leaders, Barbara Temple helped pull her from the water.

“The little girl could have drowned had Isabelle not been so quick to jump in after her,” says Temple. “Isabelle jumped in and grabbed the girl around the chest under her arms and pulled her up to the surface.”

Isabelle attributes her time in Girl Scouts and the lessons she’s learned there to helping her to make such a quick action decision.

“From the Girl Scout Law, we are taught to be friendly and helpful and courageous and strong, which I feel that I was,” says Isabelle.

Earlier this week, Isabelle Carrasco received the Girl Scout Lifesaving Award for her courageous actions. Her council recognized her efforts during an award ceremony.

Her mother says she regularly receives messages from troop leaders and Community Leader Team members praising Isabelle for her helpfulness and sense of responsibility to others. Isabelle says the Girl Scout Law teaches girls how to be friendly, helpful, courageous, and strong, and on that day, she believes she exhibited all those traits to save her cousin.

Texas, Harris County Lead in Pediatric Drownings

Texas leads the nation in pediatric drowning statistics with Harris County leading the count. In 2021 there were 77 reported child drownings in Texas. In 2022 there were 76 reported drownings. The Cy Fair and Katy area lead the count. In 2023, Texas reported 90 fatal child drownings and it’s alarming that these numbers continue to rise each year.

Texas Children’s Hospital offers information to help educate families against this tragedy. The hospital also warns that for each child who drowns, four others will suffer brain damage from submersion injuries.

Protect Our children

Children can drown in as little as 1" of water; hazards include bathtubs, buckets, pools, bodies of water, etc.
Create barriers between your child and the water
Close, lock, and alarm all doors that lead to water
Remove toys from any pool to avoid temptation
Drain inflatable/kiddie pools, after each use and store upside down and out of reach
Remove ladders from above ground pools when not in use
Always assign an adult to watch the water without any distractions (phones, books, or socializing with other adults). Download a Water Watcher Card (www.safekids.org)
Drowning is preventable and affect all people regardless of their background
Many children drown when they were not expected to be in the water, so consider all of the possible hazards for your family and take precautions now.