(CNN) A US Navy and Coast Guard operation on Tuesday rescued three mariners stranded on a tiny Pacific Ocean islet for more than a week after the trio spelled out “HELP” using palm fronds laid on a white-sand beach.

The men were on a fishing trip in the remote area when rough swells resulted in engine damage, ultimately beaching them on the island. Matters went from bad to worse when their radio batteries died before they could put out a mayday.

They'd apparently watched enough TV or movies to know their next best move was to use palm branches to spell out the word "HELP" on the sandy shore. They had no idea if anyone would ever see their desperate plea. But they hoped and waited.

For the next week, they survived on coconut meat and water from an old well they found on the tiny island — just 31 acres of land in the middle of the massive Pacific ocean.

They must have felt like the dust particle Horton the Elephant carried about on a flower in the famed Dr. Seuss classic, Horton Hears A Who. And just like those little Whos on that tiny speck of dust, the palm frond letters were their way of screaming out, "We're here! We're here!"

Two police officers and a first responder were killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, responding to “a call of a family in danger” Sunday morning, according Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. 

The two officers and a pardemic firefighter were killed during a domestic disturbance call. The shooter had barricaded himself inside his home with 7 children and his wife therein. During the standoff and attempted negotiations, the man opened fire, killing the 3 first responders before being hit by other officers who had arrived on the scence. The children and wife were safely escorted out after the man was found deceased at 8:00am. 

The officers and firefifghters were there to respond to a man clearly in crisis, perhaps assailed by his own pain, his own frustration, his own despair, his own internal turmoil, and perhaps the turmoil within his own home and life. Whatever was happening in his life, whatever was occruing or contributing to such a deadly response, the fatal blow to both himself and the responders was actually dealt the moment he refused to respond to the efforts of those who were ulitimately there to spare him, to save him, the woman, and the children.

Sure, he would have faced consequences. But maybe the family would have forgiven him, refusing to press charges. Maybe the state would have been understanding and lenient.

If only he had stood down, his life, and the lives of the others, could have been spared.

I recently viewed a videotape used to train lifeguards on how to recognize when someone is drowning. We often think that a person who is drowning will thrash about in the water and yell, “HELP! HELP! I'm drowning!” In reality, they become almost paralyzed by fear and incapable of calling for help.

The video illustrated how this works. It showed a young girl of about ten sitting on an inner tube float in the deep end of a wave pool, surrounded by children and a few adults. When the girl adjusted herself on the tube, she fell off and slipped to the bottom of the pool where the water was right at the top of her head.

There was no thrashing about and she couldn't yell for help. Instead, subtly, her hands came just above the surface as if she were reaching for something. Thankfully, a lifeguard spotted her and within a few seconds had a flotation device under her. The most remarkable thing was that the people around her were oblivious to the fact that she was drowning!

Note: for more detailed information on how to recognize drowning, visit the article in the link to source above.