Saving a life is the coolest thing that anyone could ever do! Last week during Thanksgiving, 15-year-old Madison Atkinson did just that after she used CPR to save the life of her 3-year-old cousin, Maxine.

Lil’ Maxine was just doing what all 3-year-olds do which is to explore their surroundings. The family told the abc7 folks that while the grown folks were cooking up Thanksgiving dinner, the lil’ ones were playing.

During some point during the play, lil’ Maxine got up and wondered off to the pool. The lil’ girl was most likely thinking to herself, “If the big humans can do the swimming thing, then I can do it too. All I have to do is get these arms and legs a moving! Arms and legs, here we goooo! Uh-oh! Hey, there’s a light and Ariel with sprinkles!”

One of the lil’ girl’s uncles spotted her face down in the water and jumped in and pulled her out. The folks over at abc7 reported that he yelled “HELP” as he desperately tried the only thing he knew, the Heimlich, in order to revive lil’ Maxine. Due to Atkinson taking a high school course on CPR, she knew that CPR is what needed to be perform on lil’ Maxine in order to get her breathing again.

According to Orlando Health’s Dr. Sean Farrell Isaak , CPR is used whenever someone is unconscious. The Heimlich is used whenever a person is conscious. For instance, if someone is choking then you use the Heimlich. If the person has choked on a piece of chicken and is out like a light, then you use CPR.

Another important point to keep in mind is that the brain cells begin clocking out within 5 minutes after a person loses consciousness. In order to prevent an unconscious person from remaining in a forever deep sleep, the Mayo Clinic recommends beginning the CPR process within 10 seconds after the person loses consciousness. It is also best to call 911 so that you can get the EMTs there with all of their knowledge, skills, and equipment to assist in helping to keep the person on this side of life.

Fortunately for lil’ Maxine and her family, her uncle and cousin quick reaction helped to keep her on this side of life and away from Ariel with all of her glittering lights, rainbow gumdrops, and sprinkles.