A backyard pool incident last summer could have turned deadly but for the fast reaction of a local Cub Scout, who is now being honored with a national Scouting merit award.
Sam Roberts, 10, a Schmidt Elementary School fifth-grader, was visiting a friend’s house on a hot day. He was one of several other kids enjoying a swim in the family’s backyard pool. At one point, most of the kids were getting out of the pool to eat lunch when one of the younger members of the group decided to jump in.
The problem was, the 4-year-old girl — a little sister of one of Roberts’s friends — didn’t know how to swim.
Roberts saw her jump into the deep end of the pool and reacted without hesitation.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
He jumped in, grabbed her and held her up above water while he was underwater in the pool. He then pushed her toward the edge of the pool where an adult picked her up.
“I immediately jumped in,” he said of his reaction when the girl went into the pool. “I was underwater and she was kicking me in the face,” he said, remembering the incident.
“She just wanted to do what the big kids were doing,” said Roberts’s mom, Lexi, of the little girl’s plunge.
Whether it was from the basic first aid he’s learned in Cub Scouts or because of pool safety tips he’s picked up from other activities, Roberts was able to act quickly — and likely saved a life, according to his Scout leaders.
When Lexi and Roberts’s dad, Jordan, heard about the incident, they were overwhelmed.
“We were in tears,” Jordan said, “Very proud.”
The couple was a home working on a project at their house when they got the call about what had happened.
Lexi remembers being proud, but happily surprised at the same time. When other kids might have hesitated or called for help from an adult, her son knew right away that he must act.
“I had no idea he had that much forethought,” she said, “But he acted on instinct.”
Sam said he’s glad he could help. He thinks that his experience in Scouting — one of the main tenants is keeping a sharp eye on one’s surroundings — may have helped him have such fast reaction time.
“Sometimes you have to look out to see what is going on,” he said. “You never know what could happen.”
It seems that he has lived up to the Scout Law, which says in part that Scouts must strive to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
The national Scouting council agrees that Roberts has lived up to those values. He is now the recipient of the National Certificate of Merit, given specifically to a Scout who has attempted to save a life or performed noble acts of service, using Scouting skills or ideals.
Roberts has been part of Pack 559 from Asbury United Methodist Church in Columbus, which has close to 50 scouts.
Lexi is a den leader for the pack. She says the Scouting experience is a great one for kids — not only because it instills potentially lifesaving skills — but because of the close friendships and great memories both kids and adults make.
Sam agrees. “I can climb a four-story rock wall,” he said, proudly.
The family has enjoyed many camping trips through through Cub Scout programs, and several other educational opportunities, which have included STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities.
Sam has said he’d like to be an astronaut when he grows up.
Roberts and fellow Cub Scouts became Boy Scouts of Troop 559 on Monday during a Blue and Gold Banquet graduation.
He received the National Certificate of Merit from the Boy Scouts of America National Court of Honor on Jan. 28 during a regular pack meeting.
He will be recognized again for his achievement on Feb. 10 during Scout Sunday festivities at Asbury United Methodist Church.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the award” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The National Certificate of Merit in Scouting is given specifically to a Scout who has attempted to save a life or performed noble acts of service, using Scouting skills.
Learn more about the award at meritbadge.org.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
