Drowning at POP Century

[maxiesmom]

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?

If I remember right, the oldest was 14. The thread got quite ugly, so I hope it is ok to mention it.

I feel horrible for this family, and am sending up prayers. It does serve as a reminder to the rest of us to be careful when in any pool or large body of water. We need to be careful and pay attention to our kids.

 

[Sammie]

Honestly I wish the pools were closed when the lifeguards are not there. As a former guard, it always makes me nervous.

I know this would not be popular with most guests and this could be a fluke type accident, but without the lifeguards I have seen these pools get really roudy.

Lots of horseplay, diving where one should not be, people on other's shoulders, etc.

It is never just people being quiet, it's like No Lifeguards, let the party begin.

I hope he has a full recovery and thank goodness his Dad was there and knew CPR.

This is the reason Disney has a rule no one under 12 in the pool without adult supervision, of course many think that was unreasonable too.

 

[mommyrosa2]

If I remember right, the oldest was 14. The thread got quite ugly, so I hope it is ok to mention it.

I feel horrible for this family, and am sending up prayers. It does serve as a reminder to the rest of us to be careful when in any pool or large body of water. We need to be careful and pay attention to our kids.

Totally agree... Pool safety should be taught at a very young age but even when it is taught, it doesn't stop kids from doing stupid things. I can't even begin to say how often I see kids (older ones especially) diving in shallow areas, horse playing around the edging of pools, etc., it's dangerous and they don't quite grasp the severity of the consequences until it's too late and someone gets hurt. Each time we've vacationed at Disney, we see stupid things happening in the pool area, most times parents are present and it's still a "free for all". I'm not saying this is what happened in this incident but maxiesmom is correct everyone needs to pay more attention.

 

[jhryb]

I just want to give my kids a big hug. My son is in Florida with my parents and you just never know. You try not to bubble wrap but it is really hard to give freedom when you hear stories like this.

 

[bumbershoot]

of course it matters!!! without knowing exactly what happened i can't comment further about this boys parents specifically.

But why do we have the need to comment about the parents specifically?

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/

Always a good reminder.



My son nearly drowned when he was in arm's reach of me. He was SILENT. No noise, no splashing, nothing. If my brother hadn't looked beyond me (I was talking with my brother and was turned away from DS) and had a change of expression, who knows what could have happened. And this is how I found out by experience that water wings (not the ones attached to a vest, just the arm bands) are a great way to cause your child to drown, as he was wearing them, his arms went above his head while playing, and he couldn't get them back down. With his arms up, his head was under the water. We popped those water wings then and there and got him a proper flotation vest.

Kids can have problems when parents are literally right there. We don't know what the case was here, and it's not our business. It hasn't even been 24 hours, I'm sure the family is reeling and is not feeling like talking to the media, so we can just review what we feel we should do with our own kids, think some good thoughts about the boy, and not freak out over what might or might have happened.

 

[Robbi]

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

Anything can happen- amazingly sad.
About 30 years ago, my friend and her family went to Acapulco. Her boyfriend went with them. He came down the pool slide head first and broke his neck when he hit the water. Tons of people were doing it and he had done it several times. It was so tragic.

 

[dp911]

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.

I thought of that poster also. Maybe someone should put a link of the news article on her thread. I would but on my phone.

 

[maxiesmom]

My son nearly drowned when he was in arm's reach of me. He was SILENT. No noise, no splashing, nothing. If my brother hadn't looked beyond me (I was talking with my brother and was turned away from DS) and had a change of expression, who knows what could have happened.

Whenever the have shows on tv about drowning, and drowning prevention, that is how they say the majority of drownings happen. Silently. Most of us tend to think you will hear a lot of splashing and yelling, but it is not true.

I can't imagine how awful it was to have your son almost drown. Thank goodness your brother saw what was happening. And thank you for the warning about water wings. I never would have thought that they would hold your arms but not your body up, but it makes sense.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...isney-hotel-drowning-20130310,0,2422606.story

This is horrible I hope everything turns out ok... Have never seen anything like this.

 

[sabrinadv1]

As an EMT I have performed CPR on a 13 year old before. There is no way to explain it unless you've done it. I can't imagine doing it on my own child. I admire the dad beyond measure for being able to hold it together to do this. Praying for the child and family.

 

[carrie1626]

I have a pool in my yard.
I can tell all of you from personal experience, how unexpectedly and quickly a person can bump/hit their head under water, HAVING FUN

I pray this teenager has a positive recovery outcome.

 

[dfarner]

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.:worried:

This is just what I was thinking!! Things like this happen in a flash, where seconds count. In fact, it sounds like BECAUSE the dad of this boy was present, he is ALIVE. Thank goodness this father had the presence of mind to do CPR on his own child.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Prayers for that family. This is not the time for the blame game folks. I'm sure that the poor father who gave his own son cpr will never really fully recover. Unimaginable!
When I was a teenager I used to babysit for a little boy. At the time he was 18 months old, big for his age and very quick and sturdy on his feet. I took him to the park baby pool (with his parents permission) where the water was literally at my ankle. I put him in front of me and turned around to get his water toy from the ledge. I did not walk away from him, simply turned my head and reached with my arm. I turned back to give him the toy and he was floating face first in the water. Like others have said, he was silent. He was fine as this all happened within 3 seconds or so but 30 years later I still remember the fear, shock and yes, the guilt I felt then.

 

[Sammie]

Whenever the have shows on tv about drowning, and drowning prevention, that is how they say the majority of drownings happen. Silently. Most of us tend to think you will hear a lot of splashing and yelling, but it is not true.

I can't imagine how awful it was to have your son almost drown. Thank goodness your brother saw what was happening. And thank you for the warning about water wings. I never would have thought that they would hold your arms but not your body up, but it makes sense.

As a former water safety instructor, water wings can be so dangerous. A vest is the best or a swim suit that has removable flotation inserts. Pools can very dangerous. Kids really don't need to run, dive in, or rough house.

It makes me a nervous wreck when I walk by pools without a guard and I have on occasion had to pull someone out.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

So sad.I've been praying this boy is ok. I wonder about the lifeguard situation. I know last June DS and I were at POFQ. The lifeguards would check the whole pool, do a head count over and over. It seems unreal a tragedy can happen at such a happy place.

 

[Sue M]

Totally agree... Pool safety should be taught at a very young age but even when it is taught, it doesn't stop kids from doing stupid things. I can't even begin to say how often I see kids (older ones especially) diving in shallow areas, horse playing around the edging of pools, etc., it's dangerous and they don't quite grasp the severity of the consequences until it's too late and someone gets hurt. Each time we've vacationed at Disney, we see stupid things happening in the pool area, most times parents are present and it's still a "free for all". I'm not saying this is what happened in this incident but maxiesmom is correct everyone needs to pay more attention.

Very true. I've seen the same things by pools, and often the parent isn't exercising common sense either. I am NOT saying that this was the case here at Pop, so no flames people, please.

 

[suemom2kay]

As an EMT I have performed CPR on a 13 year old before. There is no way to explain it unless you've done it. I can't imagine doing it on my own child. I admire the dad beyond measure for being able to hold it together to do this. Praying for the child and family.

I agree. I've performed CPR dozens of times. Not a pleasant experience to say the least. I cannot begin to imagine having to do it on my own child or other family member.

Kudos to Dad for his quick action. He may have saved not only his life but saved him from severe brain damage. One report said he had a pulse upon arrival. I just hope he wasn't down long.

Poor child and family. My prayers are with them.

 

[sabrinadv1]

I agree. I've performed CPR dozens of times. Not a pleasant experience to say the least. I cannot begin to imagine having to do it on my own child or other family member.

Kudos to Dad for his quick action. He may have saved not only his life but saved him from severe brain damage. One report said he had a pulse upon arrival. I just hope he wasn't down long.

Poor child and family. My prayers are with them.

I read a report that he was breathing on his own when they transported him. That's a really good sign.

 

[Twinkletoes86]

I am at the Pop Century right now, I saw the whole thing happen last night. It was not pretty. Yes the father was there and started CPR, many others were there to assist with the CPR, until the EMTs arrived. Total the boy probably had CPR for 10 minutes, they were still doing CPR as they wheeled him out on the stretcher. Many family members were there with the dad. Currently at pop the lifeguards are done at 8.
I was so relieved to see that he is still alive, things were not looking good last night. I pray this boy makes a full recovery, and for his family as well.

 

[Robbi]

I am at the Pop Century right now, I saw the whole thing happen last night. It was not pretty. Yes the father was there and started CPR, many others were there to assist with the CPR, until the EMTs arrived. Total the boy probably had CPR for 10 minutes, they were still doing CPR as they wheeled him out on the stretcher. Many family members were there with the dad. Currently at pop the lifeguards are done at 8.
I was so relieved to see that he is still alive, things were not looking good last night. I pray this boy makes a full recovery, and for his family as well.

That must have been traumatic for you.
So happy that dad had familial support.