Off Duty Nurse Saves 12-Year-Old from Near Drowning
In Eagle Mountain, Utah, a fun day marking the end of sixth grade almost turned tragic when 12-year-old Jason Thorpe lost consciousness in a hot tub. The incident occurred on a Friday evening and serves as a stark reminder of how risky underwater breath-holding can be and the life-saving impact a nurse can have, even when off the clock.
According to KSL.com, the kids at the party were chatting about their breath-holding prowess, leading Jason to try holding his breath underwater in a hot tub for five minutes. What started as a fun competition quickly spiraled into a crisis when Jason passed out beneath the water's surface. An adult guest pulled him out, but he wasn't breathing.Â
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Lucky for Jason, there was an off-duty nurse among the parents, who sprang into action with CPR 7-9 minutes until Firefighters and Deputies arrived. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! This quick response was crucial in saving Jason’s life.
"If she hadn't been there at that moment, I mean, even a minute longer, we would be dealing with a completely different story," said Jason’s mom, Anne Thorpe, in her interview with KSL.com. She stressed the importance of knowing CPR and doing it right when every second counts.Â
A Silent but Serious Risk: Breath-Holding Games
While breath-holding games might seem harmless, they pose a very real risk-especially to children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists drowning as the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. In the U.S., over 900 children die from drowning each year, making it a leading cause of death among children ages 1–14.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) specifically warns against underwater breath-holding competitions and extended submersion, noting the risk of shallow water blackout-a sudden and silent loss of consciousness caused by oxygen deprivation to the brain. This condition can affect even experienced swimmers and occurs without warning or visible signs of struggle.
A Case for CPR Readiness-On and Off the Clock
For nurses, this story reinforces an important truth: our clinical training is always relevant. The nurse who saved Jason acted quickly, performing CPR without hesitation. Her preparedness underscores the real-world impact of maintaining resuscitation skills—especially in environments where help may be limited to bystanders.
The American Heart Association (AHA) states that bystander CPR performed within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest can double or even triple survival rates. In drowning incidents, where oxygen deprivation is often the primary concern, every second truly counts.
As the summer season begins and water-related activities increase, it’s a critical time for nurses to:
- Review CPR certification and encourage refresher training.
- Educate families about water safety and the risks of breath-holding games.
- Encourage the use of a designated “water watcher”—a responsible adult who supervises children near water without distractions like phones or conversation.
The American Red Cross offers additional guidance on water safety, including training for caregivers and public awareness campaigns designed to reduce drowning risks.
A Nurse’s Role Never Ends
Jason remains in the ICU where he is still intubated and sedated at Primary Children’s in SLC but his family remains hopeful, thanks to the presence and actions of a nurse who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Her story is a reminder that nursing isn’t confined to clinical walls-it’s a lifelong commitment to readiness, advocacy, and care, wherever it's needed.
This incident is also a call to action for the nursing community: stay prepared, stay educated, and continue to be the eyes, ears, and hands that protect lives, whether you're in scrubs or simply attending a weekend celebration.
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