Another day, another death thread: Girl dies at one of the water parks

[pixiedust23]

Unfortunately under law a patient has the right to refuse medical treatment. If medical personel attempt to "help" someone who has refused their service charges can be pressed. This girl didnt have to die...sigh.

Another thing I was thinking. They say she passed out when she stood up. As young as she is I cant help but think of an eating disorder. That combined with dehydration from being in the sun could have a lethal effect.

 

[Bill From PA]

Here's my perspective on the deaths this year at WDW. A quote from ABOUT.COM on Disney crowd figures:

'The Magic Kingdom at Florida's Walt Disney World as the number-one most attended park in North America and worldwide, with over 15 million guests in 2004. Let's see...divide by 365, carry the 1, um...that figures out to a whopping 41,000 people per day all vying for a ride on Dumbo. No wonder the place feels a little crowded'

OK, an average of 41,000 per day at MK alone. Let's add a conservative 30,000 more per park for the other 3 and say 3,000 each for the water parks and we have and 'city' of 137,000 people. If your town is that size or smaller, read your newspaper's Obit section for a time. Ignore car fatalities and violent crime and you'll still see more than a few folks, of all ages, just dying. Unless foul play is suspected, you never hear about these cases again unless it's someone in your circle. Given well over 100,000 people, the heat and the stress of an active vacation, the surprising thing to me is that this doesn't occur every day. My heart goes out to the deceased and their families. With one exception all our trips include our extended family from my 79 yr old mom to my 3 yr old grand daughter. It's unthinkable to contemplate losing any of them, period, let alone at WDW. Yet, given the numbers above, these tragedies are actually to be expected.

Bill From PA

 

[liveforthemagic]

My prayers to her family.

I am not a doctor, but I can speak a little bit to the dehydration theory.

We were at DW the last week of May. It was in the upper 80's every day. We were very vigilant about hydrating the kids--but I guess not so careful about ourselves. About a week after we got home, DH had terrible back pain and found out he had a kidney stone--the doc said of course it didn't develop in the 6 days we were in fl--but 6 days of warm weather, alot of physical activity and not enough hydration probably caused it to begin its painful move south.

His advice--which we follow to the letter--especially here in MO this summer where the temps hover around 100 degrees for weeks at a time and it hasn't rained in months--drink something every hour--water is best, sports drinks too. Stay away from alcoholic beverages or caffeinated or carbonated drinks as the sugar is not good for your body and sometimes can contribute to the formation of kidney stones. If you are drinking alot but don't have to "go" often, you are not drinking enough. This means that your body is using every ounce of the liquid you put in and does not have enough to help purge your body of wastes. Remember to hydrate while travelling--especially when flying--where the air is very dry and can also contribute to dehydration.

DH says to this day that he felt fine the whole vacation, and really thought he was drinking enough fluids. Thankfully, he only had to deal with a kidney stone....Hope this helps someone!

 

[shelby_36]

It amazes me that these press accounts never mention dehydration or overexposure to the sun as possible causes of these tragedies.

If you must report every bad thing that happens at Disney, at least use the occasion to provide some useful information about things to watch out for in the Florida heat and sun.
.[/URL]

I didn't think any cause was reported on or speculated on yet ..has it???

 

[westjones]

I just heard this on our news too. How awful! I feel so bad for these families.

DJ

 

[pooh2001]

I am reading much about kids. My prayers do go out to the families .. but lessons for parents...

1) stay with your kids unless they are 21 or older and independent

2) drink water, drink water, drink water - SUGAR drinks do not do much for your body. I am not a doctor, just a Mom. I always have cold water in a jug for my kids and their friends to drink when they use our pool. I make them get out of our pool every two hours to have water and a snack.

3) Use good judgement. Just because your child reaches the height requirements, does not mean they will follow all the directions of the ride.
Do not let a young child - age 13 and below maybe ? - ride alone.
Not just for keeping the body inside of the ride - what about robbery, pedophiles, kidnapping, etc....just because it is WDW does not mean all guests have your good natured values.

I feel sorry for the familes - but who lets a 4 year old on a ride with G-forces,
who lets anyine under 18 be alone in a pool (never leave kids alone in any pool), if any child looks dizzy after being on a ride -why let them go again, ask them to sit down for a bit and maybe seek medical help.


Bad things happen to Good People (it's a book - you can read it)

But people have to use good judgement where ever they are

 

[melaniemiller2002]

I don't have much to comment on this sad tragedy as I don't really know the entire story (only the short blurb the news has posted thus far), but I can attest the dangerousness of those wave pools. When I was about 16, I remember almost drowning in the wave pool at Waterworld in Houston, TX. The waves were not nearly as big as they are at Typhoon Lagoon and I was an extremely strong swimmer. I've taken lessons since I was about 3, was on United States Diving/Swimming for years, lifeguarded for 4 consecutive summers, and consider myself to be an excellent swimmer.

I was near the side of the pool where the waves were created (I believe it's done differently at Typhoon Lagoon....I saw a behind the scenes show on how they do their waves). The sides of the wave pool suck down the water and then "spit" it back out, creating the waves. I was unable to climb the ladder to get out of the pool because the suction was so strong. I eventually got weak and the suction started to pull me under the water. The lifeguard came to my rescue but I always wonder what would have happened had he not been near me. Also, anyone who has gone swimming in both a pool and the ocean can attest to the difficulty of swimming in ocean water as opposed to a pool. Even strong swimmers can drown quite easily.

I don't think I would leave my children unattended for even a few minutes at the age this girl was in that particular wave pool. I don't care how many lifeguards there are.....I'm sure there were a ton of people in the pool and from my previous experience as a lifeguard, it's very hard to spot someone in trouble when there are hundreds of other bodies in a confined area.

I feel for this girl's parents...how horrible for something that was supposed to be a great time at WDW turn into a tragedy like this.

Melanie

 

[HappyLawyer]

I am reading much about kids. My prayers do go out to the families .. but lessons for parents...

1) stay with your kids unless they are 21 or older and independent

2) drink water, drink water, drink water - SUGAR drinks do not do much for your body. I am not a doctor, just a Mom. I always have cold water in a jug for my kids and their friends to drink when they use our pool. I make them get out of our pool every two hours to have water and a snack.

3) Use good judgement. Just because your child reaches the height requirements, does not mean they will follow all the directions of the ride.
Do not let a young child - age 13 and below maybe ? - ride alone.
Not just for keeping the body inside of the ride - what about robbery, pedophiles, kidnapping, etc....just because it is WDW does not mean all guests have your good natured values.

I feel sorry for the familes - but who lets a 4 year old on a ride with G-forces,
who lets anyine under 18 be alone in a pool (never leave kids alone in any pool), if any child looks dizzy after being on a ride -why let them go again, ask them to sit down for a bit and maybe seek medical help.


Bad things happen to Good People (it's a book - you can read it)

But people have to use good judgement where ever they are

I think 21 is a bit extreme but hey we raise our kids differently, but i am not following my teen into the pool,

anyway, my thoughts are with the family of this child.

 

[Zip-A-Dee-Lady]

My condelences.


There truly are some strange happenings at Disney lately....

 

[shelby_36]

I am reading much about kids. My prayers do go out to the families .. but lessons for parents...

1) stay with your kids unless they are 21 or older and independent

2) drink water, drink water, drink water - SUGAR drinks do not do much for your body. I am not a doctor, just a Mom. I always have cold water in a jug for my kids and their friends to drink when they use our pool. I make them get out of our pool every two hours to have water and a snack.

3) Use good judgement. Just because your child reaches the height requirements, does not mean they will follow all the directions of the ride.
Do not let a young child - age 13 and below maybe ? - ride alone.
Not just for keeping the body inside of the ride - what about robbery, pedophiles, kidnapping, etc....just because it is WDW does not mean all guests have your good natured values.

I feel sorry for the familes - but who lets a 4 year old on a ride with G-forces,
who lets anyine under 18 be alone in a pool (never leave kids alone in any pool), if any child looks dizzy after being on a ride -why let them go again, ask them to sit down for a bit and maybe seek medical help.


Bad things happen to Good People (it's a book - you can read it)

But people have to use good judgement where ever they are

great reminders .thanks. I think sometimes we tend to get lax on our "watchfulness" in our strive to have fun, or for convenience. Of course it is a nuisance to go outside with your kids everytime they do when they are older, or very tempting to have a young teen run and grab something away from the group at an amusement park....

 

[D L and K's Mom]

This is so sad. We were at Typhoon Lagoon on our last trip and I was sent flying from one of the waves in the tide pool. I am not a little person and I went flying and hit my legs and knees hard. I can't imagine if you hit your head! I feel so bad for her family. My thoughts and prayers are with them.
Does anyone know if WDW does daily drills for their lifeguards? I am sure that they are given very strict training. While we were there we were told to get out of the water 3 times. I am pretty sure there were no problems I am now wondering if this was a drill. Someone told us that if there is a report of a missing person that everyone must leave the water. I know when I was in school and I was working as a lifeguard we had this dummy that was put into the pool daily.......we were timed to see how long it took one of the lifeguards to notice a "floating body" amid the swimmers. I have to say it did sometime take quite a bit of time to see it because of all the swimmers etc...it is unfortunate but it is true. Parents and adults need to keep and eye on their children and not depend solely on lifeguards. I am not saying this accident was anyones fault I am just saying....PLEASE WATCH YOUR CHILDREN IN THE POOL and teenagers need to be supervised or at least be with a buddy. You can bang your head or cramp up quickly. Even the strongest swimmers can run into problems.

 

[Alysa]

Disney does a great job of getting sick people off their property. Ever notice how they always die a "short time later at a local hospital"???

I don't know about the States but in Canada paramedics are not allowed to declare a patient deceased. And from what I can read, the girls family were in visual range of the girl. If she was feeling dizzy or unwell she might not have been thinking clearly when she refused help. I can't imagine the torment her family must be feeling. I don't think Disney, the lifeguards, the paramedics, her family or she can be blamed or criticized for a terrible tragedy like this. My prayers go out to them.

 

[pixiedust23]

I don't know about the States but in Canada paramedics are not allowed to declare a patient deceased. And from what I can read, the girls family were in visual range of the girl. If she was feeling dizzy or unwell she might not have been thinking clearly when she refused help. I can't imagine the torment her family must be feeling. I don't think Disney, the lifeguards, the paramedics, her family or she can be blamed or criticized for a terrible tragedy like this. My prayers go out to them.

Paramedics here can only call a Death if a decapitation has occurred.

 

[wishspirit]

Disney does a great job of getting sick people off their property. Ever notice how they always die a "short time later at a local hospital"???

No person is allowed to be declaired dead on disney property, they are ALWAYS taken offsite as soon as possible. That is how disney has a stainless record of saying no-one has tecnically died at their parks.

I feel sorry for the child, and my heart goes to the parents. Yet as disney is so big these things are bound to happen. Think of all the people who give birth at disney! People shouldnt expect things not to happen at disney as they happen everywhere else in the world. Yet it is sad when these event occur, and at least disney can say they have vidulent life savers.

 

[VSL]

No person is allowed to be declaired dead on disney property, they are ALWAYS taken offsite as soon as possible. That is how disney has a stainless record of saying no-one has tecnically died at their parks.

I believe that this is an urban myth - more to do with the fact that, as a previous person said, paramedics can't declare a death unless decapitation has occured.

I think Snopes has it listed as a myth.

(I *think*)

 

[aero99]

Local paper is reporting there was NO trauma. The death was Not "ride" related. (BTW this is the local paper of where the girl lives)

 

[have2getaway]

Last summer, while my extended family was at a water park, my nephew (6 years) became extremely ill on the way home. I asked my sister what he had to drink during the day and she looked at me with an amazed look on her face and basically said nothing. She said that they were so busy having fun that they forgot to take breaks to drink. They ate plenty, but they really didn't have drink breaks other than what they had at meals. I was a former lifeguard and I am trained in first aid, cpr, etc. I immediately said that we have to get him to drink something right away. She thought I was overreacting, but I IMMEDIATELY stopped at a convenient store and got fluids. I was almost hysterical He was sleeping because he basically had passed out. I instructed her to wake him every few minutes (I was driving) and force him to drink some fluids. She didn't think it was important and said he is just resting, but when she realized that I was in fact right, she became concerned herself. While everything turned out fine, I will never forget that day. Since then, we ALWAYS have drinks on hand.

I personally went on a wave pool this past summer. NEVER AGAIN. I was in the pool for a few minutes, and I had to get out because I felt so sick to my stomache. I am a strong swimmer and I am used to fast roller coasters, but I couldn't handle a simple wave pool. I literally thought I was going to throw up.

Now, no one knows if this girl died from dehydration or even nausea, but is it possible--absolutely! It could happen to anyone. If she was in fact dehydrated, and went on a wave pool, this could have made her more nauseated and worsened her condition. Heat exhaustion & heat stroke should be taken very seriously. It's so easy to forget to drink or provide constant drinks for your children when you are busy having fun.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Agree the post about no one declared dead on property is an urban legend.

And the Orlando paper is reporting no trauma, as someone else noted.

Just taking a guess I think it had probably more to de with heat exhaustion. It has been brutal outside recently.

orlandosentinel.com :

Girl's death at Disney not caused by trauma

By Anthony Colarossi and Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted August 5, 2005, 3:08 PM EDT

Jerra Kirby, the 12-year-old girl who collapsed while visiting Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Thursday and died, did not suffer a physical injury before her death, according to an autopsy conducted this morning.

The autopsy "revealed no signs of trauma," said Steve Hanson, chief investigator of the District 9 Medical Examiner's Office, covering Orange and Osceola counties.

"The cause of death is pending additional testing," Hanson said. "There was nothing that stood out as being the cause of death, anatomically. She didn't die from physical injury. That's what trauma is."

It could now take four to six weeks or more to conduct the more sophisticated testing required to determine the cause of death, Hanson said.

Jerra died after passing out at the wave pool at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon. She was with a group of relatives from Newport News, Va. It was the third time in three months that a young person has suddenly fallen critically ill while visiting Disney.

Florida's chief investigator for rides and attractions said today that Walt Disney World reported the death of a 12-year-old girl to the state because of the "serious nature" of the incident, but the Bureau of Fair Rides Inspection likely will not investigate.

"From all we know at the moment it does not appear to be ride related," said Allan Harrison, chief investigator. The agency inspects water parks along with fairs and small attractions, but Disney and other major parks are exempt by state law, Harrison said.

Disney asked the state to check out the Tower of Terror ride in July when a teen from England collapsed and was hospitalized with bleeding in the brain after riding the simulated elevator ride. The ride was found to be operating normally.

In June, a Pennsylvania boy collapsed on Epcot's Mission: Space ride and later died. Disney's inspections showed no signs of ride malfunction.

Disney and other large water-park operators such as SeaWorld do file incident reports with the state, Harrison said, when water-park incidents are serious enough to warrant a trip to a hospital, just as the parks do for mechanical rides.

The most serious water-park incident reported to the state by Disney since 2001 was in February 2003 when a 31-year-old woman fell on the steps to a pool at Typhoon Lagoon, fractured an ankle and later died of a pulmonary embolism.

Three other Typhoon Lagoon incident reports were filed in recent years, including one 46-year-old male who had a stroke, according to family members. Five incidents were recorded at Blizzard Beach, another Disney water park, between 2001 and June 2005, according to the most recent state records. Most of the cases involved adults with bumps and sprains but one was an 11-year-old boy who reportedly suffered a seizure.

 

[Luv2Roam]

http://www.snopes2.com/disney/parks/declare.htm

 

[Stitch1962]

We have annual water park passes to the Disney Water Parks and go at least weekly. In fact, we were there Tuesday afternoon until closing. We are completely comfortable with how the parks are run, the calabre of training their lifeguards receive as well as response time and ability to handle any incident that may come up. We feel completely comfortable sitting at the edge of the wave pool while our 11 year old goes in. She is only allowed to go into the part over to one side near the bar on the beach, as we can keep an eye on her more easily and the waves are not as intense as those found in the main part of the wave pool. Usually she takes a friend along, so she has the buddy system going, or makes a friend to hang out with while she is out there.

I do not think that this is, in any way, the fault of Disney and from everything I have read, the castmembers responded immediately and appropriately. My educated guess is that the child got severely dehydrated and her body shut down. The fact that she told the lifeguard to "leave me alone", is certainly a symptom of dehydration or severe low blood sugar. What a shame that the vacation had to end with this tragedy. My heart goes out to her family, and I hope that with further tests, they will have their answers.