CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Kyla Marshall, a lifeguard with the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department, is being recognized for saving a 5-year-old boy who began choking on water while taking swim lessons at the New Providence Indoor Pool.
On March 15, Kyla was teaching swim lessons for one of her pre-school classes with children 3 to 5 years old. She was working with two of the youngsters, and they were practicing blowing bubbles, which is key to teaching the kids not to inhale or drink the water.
She held a ring under the water, and one boy went under, grabbed for it, and then stood up and said he didn’t want to do it anymore. Kyla told him that was fine and asked him if he was OK.
The boy coughed, and Kyla took him out of the water and gave him five back blows. He was still showing signs of choking and was holding his throat. Kyla gave him five more back blows and sat him down, and he spit out the mucus.
Training was key to her quick actions, she said.
“Adrenaline kicks in. It’s just muscle memory – you do what you’re trained to do. I was thinking about it, but I just did what I was trained to do, and I was thinking about it more afterwards,” she said.
Shortly afterward, the youngster said he wanted to get back in the water, but Kyla told him they needed to go talk to his parents and fill out some paperwork.
Kyla, a 16-year-old junior at West Creek High School, has been a lifeguard at the pool for almost a year. She is certified and has received her Red Cross CPR and first aid training.
Anyone looking to be a lifeguard has a lot of work cut out for them. “The advice I’d give is to stay up with your training and to take the job seriously.”
Kim Gilbert, Aquatics Superintendent for the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department, praised Kyla for her actions.
“Kyla has been a really dedicated employee and shows she has what it takes to be a lifeguard and a water safety instructor. I’m very proud of her knowing that all of our training worked. This is why we train – all that muscle memory,” Gilbert said.
Clarksville Parks & Recreation is currently hiring for lifeguard positions for the summer. Starting pay is $10 an hour, and all training is in-house. Those interested can apply at cityofclarksville.com.
Angela Peterson contributed to this report.
