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

[goofydad621]

First and formost my heart and prayers go out to that little girl and her family this is very tragic. I look at my own kids and wonder.
There was no prior knowledge of any medical condition, maybe it was dehydration and or heat maybe it was something else. Not everything is caught early in our area just a couple of months ago the star pitcher lfor our high school left a game early because he did not feel well, he was dead the next day, a form of leukemia that was not detected. You just never know what underlying conditions somebody harbors. just my 2 cents

Dave

 

[carlossanta]

If she broke a C1 or C2 vertebrae in her neck, it might take a while to swell and thus cut off the nerves to her heart and lungs. She may also have broken it, then just moved her head right to sever the spinal cord.

 

[safetymom]

The girl was still alive when she left TL.

 

[JimFitz]

I think we should all point out that the staff their does an excellent job!

I mean think about it......Millions of people visit Typhoon Lagoon every year and there are no drownings?? That is remarkable.

 

[britts06]

When I was younger, can't quite remember what age I was but probably about 7 or 8, me and my family went to TL. My dad and I went into the wave pool, I had on a life jacket and everything. As the waves came out the life jacket wouldn't support me and I flipped and went under, and my dad had to grab me out of the water and catch me so I wouldn't drowned.

 

[yoopermom]

We were there July 18-30, and two things happened that relate to this:
1. Stopped at First Aid (unrelated) and had a nice long chat with the nurse, she said her back rooms were FULL of dehydrated/overheated people. While we were waiting, she had to go to the little pavillion area outside the station and SCOLD a family who's six year old she had just treated for heat exhaustion. She had ordered them to take the child back to the resort/rest/get fluids, and they were mad because they wanted to get their money worth out of the park!
2. The local weather guy did an excellent show and tell of how, even holding perfectly still, you can get overheated when the heat/humidity are both in the nineties (like it was then). We had crates of bottled water delivered for our stay, but how many people don't want to spend the $2.50 a bottle or drink the local water?

All our prayers to the family, and glad we enjoyed our trip safely...
Terri

 

[2d_star_to_the_right]

This is a terrible tragedy for this family and our hearts and prayers are with them in this difficult time. The greatest gift this little girl has given is understanding the need to be vigilant across all venues.

1) Be near your kids. You need to know what they are doing- are they getting knocked around by the waves, have they been in the water too long, when was the last time they had something to eat, something to drink, when was the last time they got out of the sun? It is not for me to say- how old kids can be before mom and dad stop trailing after them, but if they are going to be free to roam the park then mom and dad should at least have schedueled meeting places every 1-2 hours to check in on what is happening.

2) Teach your children to ask for help. Everyone is big into fear of strangers that kids are often afraid to talk to someone they don't know. Helping kids understand that people are there to help you may make the difference between life and death. WHile I am NOT faulting the Disney staff in any way- they are not paramedics- just CPR trained lifeguards. Several rules: 1) she had to have looked "sick"- her color must have been poor. She is a child and the lifeguards should have insisted she lie still until her family could be located. The fastest way to induce shock is to have someone stand up. 2) check for alertness and orientation- it is hard to imagine that she had a head injury as most head injuries the person is difficult to rouse, vomiting, ataxic, and disoriented. But of course- an epidural bleed is certainly within reason. 3) a quick history- did you fall, when did you last eat, when did you last drink. A statement such as you don't look like you feel well- lie still until we get your parents and take a look. Most kids won't "buck" authoritative statements. They will however shrug off questions if they are afraid, or scared-- and she probably felt very scared of how she was feeling.


3) Sun and Fun- too much can be a bad thing. Even though you are in water- you still need to take good care of yourself. You need to take breaks from the chlorine/ or salt water. You need to get out of the sun and into shade periodically, You need to take a rest- swimming or tugging those rafts is exercise. You need to hydrate- water is always good, but if you are doing alot of swimming and tugging rafts- you may be sweating but not know it because of the water on your body- in this case a sports drink is a better substitute. Know your limits- young children and the elderly are affected the most by the heat first. Protect yourself with reapplications of sunscreen. Listen to your body: fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, shortness of breath, feeling warm or cold,chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea- are SIGNS to STOP and get help. Heat exhaustion and Heat stroke are serious, serious problems.

Don't expect kids to know their limits. For the most part they don't. They don't have the sense of mortality that adults have. Parents need to be proactive in knowing what their children (even those in college-look at the honors student who left a party with strangers in Aruba) are doing. Safety first for all.

just thoughts

 

[snyderla]

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"???

Didn't they say the life guard actually talked with the girl? And she collapsed? Perhaps they got her "off their property" in an attempt to revive her at a local hospital, or because she needed medical tx? Not necessarily as a conspiracy to keep someone from dying at Disney? Maybe??? I'm glad they do "a great ob of getting sick people off their property" because if I am ever that ill at WDW, I want to be taken to a hospital ASAP! Not left there with CM's or paramedics to die.

 

[Wishes]

Just a note for viewers who have never been to WDW yet - the water does have a very distinct taste and for some of us it is unbearable to drink it. When my daughter was 5 she absolutely refused to drink out of any of the water fountains in the parks. Although we hadn't planned on spending money to buy bottled water we didn't hesitate to do so to make sure she was getting some fluids. Now we purchase bottled water once we get into Orlando at one of the nearby grocery stores and take it into the parks with us.

My heart breaks to think of the pain this little girl's family is going through losing her. I am certainly praying for all of them.

 

[mylilnikita]

The 12 year old girl lived in the same city as I do. She had been an honor student and would have gone into the 7th grade. The autopsy showed she didn't die of trauma, and she wasn't in the water, she was lying on a ledge of the wave pool. A Lifeguard asked her if she was ok and she said yes and she wanted to be left alone. She went to stand up and passed out. There are more tests to do so they can find out why this young girl died, so maybe then there will be an answer.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

SO SAD

I am thinking maybe Disney might be able to set up water cooling stations in the parks?????????? I know this might be a hassle but........someone might think about getting a large cup of water from a cooler rather than getting a sip of water from a fountain and even though I would buy the bottled water some will not due to $$$ this is just an idea to throw out...

 

[nanalisa]

It's so stange to think we were just in the TL wave pool with our 8 yo granddaughter 11 days ago. Is it a coincidence that all of the tragedies have been children? The heat index was 110 while we were there and you cannot drink the water at MK, you have no choice but to buy it and I don't think twice about it. During the hot months I think Disney should set up water stations. How much could it cost? Goodwill and concern for your patrons goes a long way.

Prayers to the family who lost their daughter. How awful would it be to be so far away? Bless her little heart.

 

[disneyholic family]

I am thinking maybe Disney might be able to set up water cooling stations in the parks??????????

that's a great idea!!
certainly in the water parks where people don't think about drinking since they don't feel their heat exhaustion...

 

[MOMOFMNM]

thanks!! I remember waay back when we went to Busch Gardens when I was a teenager they had a drink station with....BEER!! My parents spent a LOT of time at the beer station that's a whole other story... I just thought it would be relatively inexpensive and very helpful...maybe even charge 10 cents for a large ice water??? At least people should know they can get free tap water at the CS places. I bet uneducated guests think they won't give it away since the bottled water is there and very expensive....

 

[mello]

Dh called today and was reading through the CNN headlines, and it sounded like he was reading themparkdeaths . com or something. Good grief, what is this?!

We have a ds 12. A good reminder to be extra vigilant. How very sad for this little girl's family.

 

[DisKim]

We were in TL 2 years ago. We took my DD (then 7) in the wave pool. We were in very shallow water because I was afraid to let her go in too far even though she was a good swimmer. When a large wave came, an adult male (had to have been 35-40) got scared and grabbed her arm and nearly yanked her under the water. There were 3 of us right there. I screamed and grabbed my daughter. My cousin's reaction was to punch him to get him away from her. I tell her to this day that she can babysit my DD anytime because I know she'll be protected . The point is, a parent has to be extremely vigilant with children in a water park. Imagine what would have happened if we weren't right next to her

 

[westjones]

Disney does give you ice water for free at their food stands if you ask, I don't think many people know that though. When we were at TL, I got ice water for lunch and the rest of my famiy got pop. They gave me a very large cup of ice water (no charge).

Here in Indiana we have an amusement park called Holiday World. They actually have FREE pop at cooling stations located around the park (and water and some other noncarbonated beverage). You just walk in and get a cup and fill up whenever you want something to drink. They also provide FREE sunblock at their waterpark. It is very nice. I know Disney would never do this, but some ice water stations would be nice.

DJ

 

[joece]

WE WERE THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED!

WE SAW LIFEGUARDS RUNNING TO THIS GIRL!

I just came back yesterday from WDW and TL Wave Pool looked very dangerous. We never go in wave pools because of there danger and past experience. These wave pools are just not safe!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Part of me does not understand this as this is not like it is unsually hot down here this year. It's Florida. It's Summer. It's hot!
It would be nice to have free water, cooling stations, etc. I think that would lower some heat exhaustion. But people just need to take responsibility for themselves and use common sense.

 

[noopy]

WE WERE THERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED!

WE SAW LIFEGUARDS RUNNING TO THIS GIRL!

I just came back yesterday from WDW and TL Wave Pool looked very dangerous. We never go in wave pools because of there danger and past experience. These wave pools are just not safe!

While none of us know all of the facts, an issue with the wave pool has not been cited as the cause of the girl's death. After being in the one at TL, I agree the waves are very powerful and I don't go in it anymore with my young dd. However, many, many theme park accidents are not related to the attractions, and I would hate to see the public blame Disney and their park for this tragic incident before the facts are clear.
One more thing...while wave pools may look dangerous, please remember that not every theme park attraction is suitable for every "body". Age, weight, height, and health are important. As adults, and as parents, our judgement can make the difference between a fun time or a disappointing, even tragic, experience at a park. We can't depend on the park itself to make those decisions for us (including keeping hydrated and cool).