Better life guards at WDW pools or sign that says you must be able to swim to enter?

[pooh2001]

Per DIS..
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General..._near-drowning_at_Walt_Disney_World_hotel.htm

13 year old boy in Value resort almost drowns.
My heart and prayers go out to the family and I hope he survives and takes some swimming lessons.

Do you think WDW needs to train the life guards better?

Do you think the sign by the pool should add, "if you can not swim, do not go into water above your head" ?

How deep are the pools in a Value (Pop) resort ?
Maybe 5 feet at the maximum area.
How tall is a 13 year old boy ?
Most likely at least 5 feet.

I would think a 13 year old boy at least knows how to tread water and do the doggy paddle.

My DS & DD started swim lessons at age 6.
They are not Olympic swimmers, but they at least could swim 100 yards, float on their back s, tread water, do the crawl and breast stroke.

 

[EpcotBill]

Per DIS..
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General..._near-drowning_at_Walt_Disney_World_hotel.htm

13 year old boy in Value resort almost drowns.
My heart and prayers go out to the family and I hope he survives and takes some swimming lessons.

Do you think WDW needs to train the life guards better?

Do you think the sign by the pool should add, "if you can not swim, do not go into water above your head" ?

How deep are the pools in a Value (Pop) resort ?
Maybe 5 feet at the maximum area.
How tall is a 13 year old boy ?
Most likely at least 5 feet.

I would think a 13 year old boy at least knows how to tread water and do the doggy paddle.

My DS & DD started swim lessons at age 6.
They are not Olympic swimmers, but they at least could swim 100 yards, float on their back s, tread water, do the crawl and breast stroke.

Lifeguards were not on duty when this happened so I don't think their training has anything to do with it.

 

[RunningWithScissors]

Not sure there really is an answer. When the lifeguards are OFF duty, you swim at your own risk and there are signs all over the pool areas saying this. I know this will not be a popular answer, but if there are NO lifeguards, I would NEVER send my kids to the pool alone--regardless of their ages. It is NOT worth the risk--especially if they like to horseplay.

As for the 13 year old near drowning victim, he was with him family and was properly supervised according to all of the articles I read. His own father performed CPR on him until paramedics could get there. It was a tragic accident and as of yet, there is no one to blame. Now, if it came out that he was diving in an area that was marked NO DIVING, then obviously there is some liability assumed there. But at this point, nobody knows the exact circumstances that led to him being found unconscious under water.

The fact is, accidents will happen no matter what. That said, the likelihood of a catastrophic accident will decrease with proper supervision, whether that is a lifeguard, a parent or both. People need to use common sense when they are in the pools. Just because your kids can swim unsupervised in your own pool or one MUCH less crowded than one at Disney, doesn't mean you should turn them loose at a crowded resort pool. If you do, you assume ALL RISKS.

 

[2manypets]

It could also be that he may of bumped his head and passed out. It's not necessarily because he couldn't swim.

 

[pooh2001]

So true - they only swim with some friends in our pool. I do come out and check on them sometimes - but our pool is 5 foot high, above ground. All swimmers are tall enough to stand up in the pool with their heads above water.
Plus we have a No Diving rule.

I feel bad for the family - maybe the pool should be roped off when no life guard is around.

The Dolphin/Swan do not let anyone swim in the Grotto pool until the life guard arrives at his/her post.

 

[willowsnn3]

POP life guards have always been very vigilant on my many stays there.
Even an experienced swimmer can have problems no matter what their age.
I'm 61 years old and cannot swim, but please don't try to keep me out of the pool!!

 

[RunningWithScissors]

It could also be that he may of bumped his head and passed out. It's not necessarily because he couldn't swim.

Based on the fact that those pools are relatively shallow, this is probably what happened. It can happen so fast, too. In a busy pool, it isn't THAT hard to miss one kid either. When the lifeguards aren't there, there isn't someone there constantly telling kids NO DIVING. You have to make sure your kids know and abide by the rules of the pool.

Praying for this boy. So tragic.

 

[pooh2001]

POP life guards have always been very vigilant on my many stays there.
Even an experienced swimmer can have problems no matter what their age.
I'm 61 years old and cannot swim, but please don't try to keep me out of the pool!!

But I bet you could stand in the Pop pool with your head above water !

 

[bowbat]

Per DIS..
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/General..._near-drowning_at_Walt_Disney_World_hotel.htm

13 year old boy in Value resort almost drowns.
My heart and prayers go out to the family and I hope he survives and takes some swimming lessons.

Do you think WDW needs to train the life guards better?

Do you think the sign by the pool should add, "if you can not swim, do not go into water above your head" ?

How deep are the pools in a Value (Pop) resort ?
Maybe 5 feet at the maximum area.
How tall is a 13 year old boy ?
Most likely at least 5 feet.

I would think a 13 year old boy at least knows how to tread water and do the doggy paddle.

My DS & DD started swim lessons at age 6.
They are not Olympic swimmers, but they at least could swim 100 yards, float on their back s, tread water, do the crawl and breast stroke.

As others have said, there were no lifeguards on duty at the time of this accident, and there is signage in place to inform guests that, in the absence of lifeguards, they swim at their own risk.

Any number of things could have caused this, from hitting his head to a medical incident. Swimming ability probably had nothing to do with it (which is why one should never assume a child would be perfectly safe at all times in a pool just because they know how to swim).

 

[willowsnn3]

But I bet you could stand in the Pop pool with your head above water !

You're right. I'm usually the one keeping a very close eye on the grandkids any time they are in the pool even tho they can all swim like a fish. Maybe there should be a night shift of life guards. There is usually always someone in the pool late at night.

 

[Dano1182]

I have always found the Disney lifeguards to be exteremly vigliant .They are extremely well trained and drill often.

Many things could cause a person to have difficulty in shallow water.

Simply swallowing water can cause distress and panic. I have personaly seen

people panicing in water that they could easily stand in.

Also a person could have a medical condition that caused them to go under.

It is my experience that most hotels do not have any lifeguards at all.

 

[msjprincess]

So true - they only swim with some friends in our pool. I do come out and check on them sometimes - but our pool is 5 foot high, above ground. All swimmers are tall enough to stand up in the pool with their heads above water.
Plus we have a No Diving rule.

I feel bad for the family - maybe the pool should be roped off when no life guard is around.

The Dolphin/Swan do not let anyone swim in the Grotto pool until the life guard arrives at his/her post.

What about the "quiet pools" that don't even have lifeguards?

 

[safetymom]

The boy died this afternoon. Prayers go out to his family.

 

[dp911]

He dove when it clearly states no diving. Follow rules.

 

[Dano1182]

Are you kidding ?A 13 year old boy dies the response is follow rules.
That is the most heartless thing I have ever read on these boards.

 

[msjprincess]

He dove when it clearly states no diving. Follow rules.

Where did you read that?

I'm guessing you've never "broke a rule" in your life. It must be nice to be so perfect. Unbelievable

 

[Dano1182]

I am sure that just about all of us have did many things when we were young that could have gotten us hurt. It is part of growing up.
My prayers are with his family.

 

[pooh2001]

Do the Pop pools say 'No Diving" in the pavement all around the pool edge?
Or is it just on a sign ?

Maybe it should say 'No Diving' every 10 feet around the pool in the pavement.
Better safe than sorry.

Our prayers go out to the family too.
What a not nice memory of a WDW vacation.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

My prayers go out to the family.

When my son was young and in a pool, it didn't matter how many life guards were on duty. Not only did we keep our eyes on him; my wife and/or I were always with him. If there are a lot of people in the pool the life guards can't keep a constant eye on all the people. All it takes is a moment for things to go very wrong and it may not get notice for several minutes. And all it takes is a few minutes to become a very dangerous situation.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

No lifeguards were on duty.

If one must be able to swim to enter the pool area, they won't need kiddie pools anymore, and you can't just lounge by the pool unless you're able to swim. I assume it really means some would like to see guests not actually enter the pools at all unless they know how to swim. Not sure who would certify them as being proficient at swimming. Of course it's being reported that the 13 year old in the recent incident did know how to swim.

If WDW is going to make changes based on this incident, most likely it would be closing the pools when lifeguards aren't on duty, rather than hiring more lifeguards.