4 year old dies at wave pool

[Cool-Beans]

At a wave pool?

Yes. I spent 3 days lifeguarding at a wave pool and quit. They sat us up really high, that was supposed to help, but IMO made it harder. And it was absolutely impossible to watch all those people, plus look for the little balls they put in the water for us to find.

There weren't enough lifeguards. I probably could have watched a smaller area, but it was ridiculous, I couldn't do it. So, I quit.

I also taught water safety and sailing and worked overnight summer camp. The pool had one lifeguard for the pool and another for each cabin of kids (me, for my cabin.) The kids were told that when I was up in the chair, I wouldn't listen to anything they said. If their head was falling off, I didn't care, they had to go tell the other counselor. I liked the kids, but once I climbed up into the chair, that's all I did.

People count on lifeguards. It is as serious a job. People's lives are in your hands. If you can't guard them, you shouldn't take the money for doing so.

I flippin took that stuff seriously. I mean, I had fun - but I was constantly on-guard, watching everyone and everything that needed watching.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If the pool admission charge came with a guarantee of safety, no one would be able to afford it. Have you ever seen any sign at a pool that said "You are absolutely guaranteed not to drown in this pool, because we have trained life guards"? They are not paid to guarantee safety, they are paid to be a line of defense.

Doctors are paid to save lives and simply cannot save them all. As are police, EMTs, etc. Sometimes people die, even when there is someone paid to try to prevent it.

If the EMT is putting on lotion or chatting with a girl while a guy is gasping for breath, I think he should go to jail, too.

And if people are dying in the hospital because there aren't enough people there to save them, then the hospital administrators should go to jail. I actually think that'll happen some day. Because that is happening, all the time.

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes. I spent 3 days lifeguarding at a wave pool and quit. They sat us up really high, that was supposed to help, but IMO made it harder. And it was absolutely impossible to watch all those people, plus look for the little balls they put in the water for us to find.

There weren't enough lifeguards. I probably could have watched a smaller area, but it was ridiculous, I couldn't do it. So, I quit.

I think that's what most of us have been saying. It's impossible to watch all those people.

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes. I spent 3 days lifeguarding at a wave pool and quit. They sat us up really high, that was supposed to help, but IMO made it harder. And it was absolutely impossible to watch all those people, plus look for the little balls they put in the water for us to find.

There weren't enough lifeguards. I probably could have watched a smaller area, but it was ridiculous, I couldn't do it. So, I quit.

I also taught water safety and sailing and worked overnight summer camp. The pool had one lifeguard for the pool and another for each cabin of kids (me, for my cabin.) The kids were told that when I was up in the chair, I wouldn't listen to anything they said. If their head was falling off, I didn't care, they had to go tell the other counselor. I liked the kids, but once I climbed up into the chair, that's all I did.

People count on lifeguards. It is as serious a job. People's lives are in your hands. If you can't guard them, you shouldn't take the money for doing so.

I flippin took that stuff seriously. I mean, I had fun - but I was constantly on-guard, watching everyone and everything that needed watching.

Why are you assuming these lifeguards didn't take their job seriously and were not diligent? Surely you realize that a drowning can still happen with diligent life guards? It's not an infallible job, even with the best of the best. You even state how hard it can be to see everything all of the time.

 

[poohandwendy]

If the EMT is putting on lotion or chatting with a girl while a guy is gasping for breath, I think he should go to jail, too.

Why are you making assumptions about the lifeguards, as if they were just playing around? I didn't see anything to suggest that, in the article.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I'm assuming the lifeguards were slacking because someone died. The life wasn't guarded. If the lifeguards can't make sure people don't die, then get rid of them and drop the cost of the tickets.

Sure, and while we're at it, let's get rid of all doctors. After all, they can't save the lives of everyone they treat, so what good are they??

Of course I think the park has a certain liability for guest injury and death, depending on the situation, but here the fault ultimately lies with the family. They may be wonderful parents, but they seem to have suffered a case of bad judgment at best in this case. I feel for them, but that doesn't mean I blame the lifeguards.

 

[lillygator]

it almost seems these lifeguards don't have a chance.....what about the responsibility of the parent, shouldn't some lie with them?

 

[Cool-Beans]

Why are you assuming these lifeguards didn't take their job seriously and were not diligent? Surely you realize that a drowning can still happen with diligent life guards? It's not an infallible job, even with the best of the best. You even state how hard it can be to see everything all of the time.

You can either do the job or you can't. If you can't, you quit. Don't take money on the premise that you are guarding lives if you can't actually do it.

I don't want to be rude and not respond, but the my neice woke up, her sister is gone, and I have to play "Where's the baby?" and "Peek-a-boo" and "doing the baby dance" 1000 times now.

Her favorite song is the Sopranos theme song, which her mother worries means she'll grow up to be a female Charles Manson, so I gotta do my part.

 

[Youarehere]

If swimming is always at your own risk, then - like I said - they should get rid of the lifeguards and not charge people for this service.

No. Once I pull the kid I am watching out of the water, I will thank God- who I'm not even sure I believe in - that the lifeguards are there and they know what to do. How are 6 lifeguards supposed to watch 100's of kids?
I agree with most everyone else- they are a line of defense. I'm happy to have them, but do not see them as a guarantee of safety.

 

[mamacatnv]

Yes. I spent 3 days lifeguarding at a wave pool and quit. They sat us up really high, that was supposed to help, but IMO made it harder. And it was absolutely impossible to watch all those people, plus look for the little balls they put in the water for us to find.

There weren't enough lifeguards. I probably could have watched a smaller area, but it was ridiculous, I couldn't do it. So, I quit.

Did you accept a paycheck for those 3 days? Based on what you have said, you should not have since you were not capable of performing the required duties. During your 3 days, you could have put countless lives at risk based on your own admission that you couldn't do it. I guess you are really lucky no one was hurt or worse, drowned since by your way of thinking you would have been sent to jail.

 

[MichelleVW]

I can't imagine bringing a 4 year old into a wave pool and not hanging on to them every minute!! They should have had a life jacket on for sure!!

One mother who was quoted in the article said that she didn't know if her 11 year old would be able to return to the park or maybe she would have to go with her...YA THINK??????!!! Parent of the year there....no way would I drop an 11 year old off at a water park!!! I'm a pretty relaxed parent but no way would I let my 11 year old go to a water park without me...

 

[debster812]

Cool-Beans,

You're automatically blaming the lifeguards, but say we can't automatically blame the parents (or other responsible adult). It goes both ways.

I have also lifeguarded, and the easiest place to guard is in a rectangular pool with no diving boards or slides.

Wave pools
Murky ponds/lakes
Ocean Beaches

VERY TOUGH.

I think there are a lot of people (lifeguards, family of the child) feeling horribly right now. None of us were there, so we'll never know what really happened.

 

[Laura]

Yes. I spent 3 days lifeguarding at a wave pool and quit. They sat us up really high, that was supposed to help, but IMO made it harder. And it was absolutely impossible to watch all those people, plus look for the little balls they put in the water for us to find.

There weren't enough lifeguards. I probably could have watched a smaller area, but it was ridiculous, I couldn't do it. So, I quit.

I also taught water safety and sailing and worked overnight summer camp. The pool had one lifeguard for the pool and another for each cabin of kids (me, for my cabin.) The kids were told that when I was up in the chair, I wouldn't listen to anything they said. If their head was falling off, I didn't care, they had to go tell the other counselor. I liked the kids, but once I climbed up into the chair, that's all I did.

People count on lifeguards. It is as serious a job. People's lives are in your hands. If you can't guard them, you shouldn't take the money for doing so.

I flippin took that stuff seriously. I mean, I had fun - but I was constantly on-guard, watching everyone and everything that needed watching.

Just because someone drowns in a pool doesn't mean that the lifeguards weren't doing their jobs/weren't paying attention. It's as simple as that. Lifeguards aren't miracle workers and sometimes can't get there in time.

The lifeguards might have been goofing off, but they might not have. The park may have been negligent as to how well the lifeguards were situated to see; your brief wave pool stint is rather telling. Or that may not be the case at all. Maybe the child ran off from mom and she couldn't find him in the crowds of people, or maybe she just wasn't paying attention. We just don't know.

 

[ckmommy]

I am so sorry about this accident. My Dh and I took our 4 boys to Seaworld last weekend. They have a wave pool there and the kids were dying to go get in it. So when the whistle blew, I was set for a whole bunch of fun. Well, I was shocked to feel the force of the waves and the sheer amount of people jumping the waves and then getting pushed under by the waves. My boys are 6, 4, 4, and 3. We have a pool in our backyard and swim pretty much everyday. My 6 yo is a very good swimmer and the 4 yo's can hold their own--the 3 year old is still in the process of learning how to swim. Anyway, I was fine with DS6 without a life vest at Seaworld, but thought the 4 yo's might need one and definatly one was put on the 3 yo. I basically carried DS3 and one of the 4 yo and DH held the other 4 yo. DS6 had a blast, but after the waves ended, we got out of the wave pool and I was done with it for a long time--way, way too stressful. I know that the wave pool was staffed with guards, but there is no way that they can watch every person in the pool. I would NEVER leve my child alone in a wave pool!!!

 

[hentob]

You can either do the job or you can't. If you can't, you quit. Don't take money on the premise that you are guarding lives if you can't actually do it.

The problem here is that most lifeguards are teenagers and college kids making crappy money.

I am glad that they are present, but they are no substitute for ME! A parent.

 

[Bob Slydell]

One mother who was quoted in the article said that she didn't know if her 11 year old would be able to return to the park or maybe she would have to go with her...YA THINK??????!!! Parent of the year there....no way would I drop an 11 year old off at a water park!!! I'm a pretty relaxed parent but no way would I let my 11 year old go to a water park without me...

That quote in the article caught my eye as well -- I was thinking the same thing as you.

 

[JunieJay]

My kids are 12 and almost 9 and both are strong swimmers yet I never lose sight of them when we are the pool. I'm shocked by the number of parents with little ones who are content to sit in a chair and read their magazines, completely oblivious to their kids swimming in deep water. Yes, most lifeguards are good, but they only have 1 set of eyes. You can bet my eyes are going to be working overtime when its my kid in the pool.

When we stayed at AKL a few years ago DH found a toddler walking around the edge of the pool by the deep end. His parents were nowhere to be found. DH finally found his mother, sitting clear on the other side of the pool. She acted like she couldn't be bothered. DH is a former firefighter and has seen so much tragedy - he's usually calm, cool and collected but he ended up really telling this lady off. I'm just amazed at how casual people are with their children around water!

 

[earthfaries]

Yes, some lifeguards suck, but most are very good at their job. Wave pools, second to lifeguarding the ocean, are one of the hardest jobs for a lifeguard due to the sheer size of the pools and the amount of people that cram into them. It's even worse when the waves get rolling, because everyone swims up to the deep section to body surf and stuff like that, thus causing even more congestion.

Even the best of lifeguards are human and do not save 100% of the people who go under. I find it ironic that you're lamenting people blaming the parents, yet you have no problem assuming that the lifeguards were slacking on the job.

NOTHING takes the place of parental supervision! Not a lifeguard, a lifejacket, etc. ESPECIALLY in the wave pool!!! They are dangerous. Yes, accidents can happen in an instant, and I am not going to judge anyone, Yes, it is a lifeguards job to look after and try to help LOTS of people, and that is what they do, but most importantly, it is the PARENTS job to look after their own child(ren). That is what is most important to remember. You are the only one who can truly protect your child, not anyone, or anything else. You are the ONLY one responsible for them.
We go to the water parks weekly and I even make my 11 year old who is a good swimmer wear a lifejacket and I go in with him and hold onto a tube and watch him the WHOLE time. I NEVER take my eyes off of him, unless I go under water, which does happen occasionaly because wave pools are dangerous. I NEVER take my 4 year olds in the wave pool without a lifejacket AND laying completely in/on and inertube, and the only way all three kids get to go in is if my mom and sister are with me and we each take a child. It is way too dangerous.
This is an awful thing that happened, I don't even want to think about it honestly, but hopefully it will remind people, and make some people aware to watch their kids. Wave pools are dangerous. Maybe small children shouldn't even be allowed in.

 

[earthfaries]

That quote in the article caught my eye as well -- I was thinking the same thing as you.

At Splash Country there is a huge sign out front saying kids under 12 must be accompanied by a parent!!!

I could not believe they let 12 year olds go in the water park alone!!!!

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, it is a lifeguards job to look after and try to help LOTS of people, and that is what they do, but most importantly, it is the PARENTS job to look after their own child(ren).

Not to mention the fact that the parent is often the only person there who knows their child even exists. Life guards don't have a head count, they don't know if your kid is 'missing' right away.

This is a tragic story, but one that will be repeated over and over again because accidents happen. There is no way to prevent every accident. It's a shame we don't get to hear how many lives have been saved by these lifeguards or how wonderful and caring this mother was.

We are merely hearing about the tragedy and how these people were not able to prevent it, for whatever reason. I cannot imagine the terrible nightmare ALL people involved are living, the parents, the lifeguards...I am sure NO ONE there wanted things to end this way.