Drowning at POP Century

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

That poor family. I hope he recovers and is ok.

 

[ccgirl]

Another good reason why parents should watch their own children. I'm not saying the parents weren't watching in this case. Since I wasn't there; I have no idea what happened. Even though there are lifeguards, I don't take my eyes off my children. I don't even read a book unless they are in the kiddie splash pool. I was at a pool and there were no lifeguards - I forget what time they actually get off. There was a a boy that looked to be 5 year old alone in the pool. It was still sunny. The mom had her chair turned toward the sun with her back to the pool. Very bad idea, IMHO.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I think it would be better if we don’t blame the victims in this case, though. We don’t know what happened, or how long the child was underwater.

 

[wdwmom3]

Seriously people enough with the "parents should be watching kids". It is very likely they were there. Accidents happen. Stop trying to find someone to blame. My kids who are 10 and 12 went as part of a school trip to a water park and they are not strong swimmers. I reminded them to stay with buddies and not go in deep water. But I was not there with them. Other then life guards and checking in with supervisors every hour they were not being watched. I guess I was negligent for letting them go?

Who cares where the parents were. It does not matter at all.

 

[tmanaster]

That is so sad. I wonder if the lifeguards were already off duty. We were just at AS Sports and I was struck with how vigilant the guards were. They never sit down or stop moving their heads. I was really impressed.

I hope this boy recovers.

 

[sndral]

Based on the very limited information reported thus far I am fairly certain there were no lifeguards present. The news report said the cousin pulled him out and that dad and another guest administered CPR until EMT arrived. If lifeguards had been present they would have been administering CPR and more than likely pulled the victim from the pool.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

So sad! Praying for a full recovery for this child.

 

[Ofinn]

Seriously people enough with the "parents should be watching kids". It is very likely they were there. Accidents happen. Stop trying to find someone to blame. My kids who are 10 and 12 went as part of a school trip to a water park and they are not strong swimmers. I reminded them to stay with buddies and not go in deep water. But I was not there with them. Other then life guards and checking in with supervisors every hour they were not being watched. I guess I was negligent for letting them go?

Who cares where the parents were. It does not matter at all.

I agree with you. Many of the lifeguards at our pool are teenagers, and not much older than this kid. This kid could have been a great swimmer and it may have just been a fluke accident or maybe he drowned because of another medical problem. Things happen. I don't think a 13 year old needs to watched every second like a two year old. I really see no reason to judge the parents.

 

[khaoskat]

and i meant it where were the parents?? where they in they pool with him? and he banged his head? or some place else? i mentioned before (hello?) and understand accidents happen even under watch. it was another poster who questioned watching a 13 year old, and that is where the 'judgement started' people were saying they in fact watch their kids even at 13 years old. no one is saying the parents weren't watching him.

The parents couldn't have been to far way, as the father is the first one who started CPR on the child.

 

[Epcotgal]

Based on the very limited information reported thus far I am fairly certain there were no lifeguards present. The news report said the cousin pulled him out and that dad and another guest administered CPR until EMT arrived. If lifeguards had been present they would have been administering CPR and more than likely pulled the victim from the pool.

Yes. So apparently his father was at the pool too. From what I understand this happened after dark. With kids swimming, playing ball, diving under water, it's not easy to see their every move especially at night.

 

[CandleontheWater]

The father was obviously right there at the pool, because the article says that he immediately began CPR on the injured boy. The thing about drowning is that it doesn't happen in real life the way it does in cartoons, a person drowning can look OK to an untrained eye (yes, even a watchful parent!), when they are really in serious trouble. Check out this link about what to be watchful for and for information about the drowning response. http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

If you have kids and they spend any time in the water, you really should take a look. Most childhood drownings happen while a parent is present and watching.

 

[TDC Nala]

People can drown in 3 feet of water too.

Lifeguards are not present at the value resorts (probably other resorts too) after a certain time, but they do not close the pool. Guests swim at their own risk when the lifeguards are off duty.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

People can drown in 3 feet of water too.

If you have a seizure or hit your head, you can drown in an inch of water.

 

[JKMJ441724]

I was a lifeguard at our local pool for a couple of summers. Thankfully out of those 2 summers I only had to go in one time.

Let me tell you, the memory is enough to last me a lifetime. 22 years later and I still remember it vividly. Our pool was L-shaped and right at the corner of the L is where it went from shallow to deep water.

A kid who was not a member jumped in right at the corner. I watched for a couple of seconds (but seemed like an eternity) and he didn't come up. I dove in and that kid was under water, wide-eyed and mouth open, hands like claws, not even trying to get to the surface. He had a look of absolute terror on his face. If I hadn't been specifically watching him, I feel like it could have gone SOUTH very quick.

I was so shook up that I told my boss I was going home for the day. The kid's mom came through the gate about that time and said "oh did you jump in the deep end" and laughed. To this day I wonder if she has any idea, if her son ever told her how close he came...

Said all that to say this: it could happen in a flash.

 

[maxiesmom]

People can drown in 3 feet of water too.

Lifeguards are not present at the value resorts (probably other resorts too) after a certain time, but they do not close the pool. Guests swim at their own risk when the lifeguards are off duty.

The news article said it was around 9 pm. I'm almost positive that when we have stayed at a value resort the lifeguards didn't leave until 10 pm. Unless that depends on the time of year?

What else is giving me the chills is that post just the other day by someone who wanted to send their kids off to the pool, without an adult along, for a little while. I hope they see this and re-think that plan.

 

[ccgirl]

Another reminder why not to dive head first too. Again, not saying that is what happened here. But, tragic accidents like this should not be in vain. My mom worked in a nursing home where they treated children. Several children were there that dove head first into shallow water, broke their neck, and were quadraplegic. I don't even let my DD10 (a competivie swimmer) dive in head first in shallow water. Too easy to have an accident happen. Dive too far and you can break your neck. Yes, I realize accidents can happen and children don't always listen.

 

[MommaBearof4]

This poor family is going through their worst nightmare right now. They are probably blaming themselves. "Why didn't we notice sooner?" "Why weren't we closer? After? Why did we go swimming at all?" Let's stop blaming them and send them some positive thoughts. It could happen to anyone. Unfortunately it happened to them.

 

[si-am]

The news article said it was around 9 pm. I'm almost positive that when we have stayed at a value resort the lifeguards didn't leave until 10 pm. Unless that depends on the time of year?

What else is giving me the chills is that post just the other day by someone who wanted to send their kids off to the pool, without an adult along, for a little while. I hope they see this and re-think that plan.

The lifeguards at AoA left at 8pm last week when I was there.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

This poor family is going through their worst nightmare right now. They are probably blaming themselves. "Why didn't we notice sooner?" "Why weren't we closer? After? Why did we go swimming at all?" Let's stop blaming them and send them some positive thoughts. It could happen to anyone. Unfortunately it happened to them.

 

[TDC Nala]

The news article said it was around 9 pm. I'm almost positive that when we have stayed at a value resort the lifeguards didn't leave until 10 pm. Unless that depends on the time of year?

What else is giving me the chills is that post just the other day by someone who wanted to send their kids off to the pool, without an adult along, for a little while. I hope they see this and re-think that plan.

This boy's father was with him. But I could see why parental supervision seems like a good idea at pools for kids or young teens, was the poster's kid under 16?