What feels like safe, shallow water can still hide danger. On May 6, 2017, 10-year-old Juliana Ossa was playing in the designated swim area at Lake Mary Jane in Moss Park near Orlando, Florida. She was sitting in only about two feet of water, roughly 30 feet from the shore, surrounded by family members with lifeguards and safety buoys nearby. Suddenly, an alligator nearly nine feet long rushed in and clamped onto her leg.

Juliana screamed and tried hitting the animal, but it wouldn’t let go. In that terrifying moment, she remembered something she had learned during a visit to Gatorland: if you block an alligator’s nostrils, it may release its grip to breathe. Acting quickly, she pushed two fingers into the alligator’s nose. The animal loosened its jaws just enough for her to escape.

A nearby man rushed into the water to help her while lifeguards treated her wounds. Juliana needed several stitches but recovered quickly. Her story shows how staying calm and remembering one small piece of knowledge can make a life-saving difference.