Any update on the near drowning on RC?

[jahber]

Falling into the water accidentally is one thing. My concern is why this child was not noticed by the parents for the 8-10 minutes they estimate he was underwater. That is not a moment of inattention. We have not heard if this child was supposedly being supervised by someone else, but certainly someone was not doing their job.

That is certainly an entirely different situation, and I wasn't commenting on it. I was responding to a specific question about how a 2 year old could possibly slip into water unnoticed.

As to this situation, when my son was 8 he was allowed to go up to the pool deck with his older sister to get a soda or something to eat. Because I had been on the boards with some actually helpful (not judgmental) people, I knew to forbid going near the pools. I knew how dangerous the pools can be for unsupervised kids because *someone had told me*. I wouldn't have ever even thought of it otherwise. It wouldn't have occurred to me that my usually compliant kid would even be tempted to swim without me (a no-no), but knowing how dangerous those pools are, I made the effort to warn him. If I didn't know how crowded and dangerous (or completely unattended, in this case) the pools are, it might not have even occurred to me. But regardless, criticizing parents after an accident is not helpful in any conceivable way.

 

[Hundredacre]

Falling into the water accidentally is one thing. My concern is why this child was not noticed by the parents for the 8-10 minutes they estimate he was underwater. That is not a moment of inattention. We have not heard if this child was supposedly being supervised by someone else, but certainly someone was not doing their job.

I believe he was 8. I could see this. I don't think I would lose track of my kids for more than a couple of minutes, but weird things happen. People get distracted, etc. They could have been looking for him the entire time and not found him. Also, I know when I was 8, I was babysitting younger siblings. I also read that he was a group of 50. Maybe he was with some kind of group and not necessarily his parents.

 

[kamik86]

I believe he was 8. I could see this. I don't think I would lose track of my kids for more than a couple of minutes, but weird things happen. People get distracted, etc. They could have been looking for him the entire time and not found him. Also, I know when I was 8, I was babysitting younger siblings. I also read that he was a group of 50. Maybe he was with some kind of group and not necessarily his parents.

In a group of 50 I could easily see this happening.

I grew up with three much older siblings (10, 16, and 17 years older, so they could completely reasonably watch me). There was more then once when my parents thought my older siblings knew I chose to follow them as they went to X location and my siblings never realized I did and just thought I was with Mom and Dad. After I got left behind once they started being much more careful to ensure my sisters responded with "Yes I have <little sister> with me". In this situation where everyone thinks the kid is with someone else losing the kid for 10 minutes is easy. No one realizes the problem until everyone gets back together.

 

[RedSox68]

I believe Chase's parents were at the actual pool at the time, I don't think they were in separate places of the ship?

If I am remembering right, I thought it was a case of him bolting from the elevator or getting on an elevator and his parents frantically searching the deck and by the time they found it he was in the pool. It was so tragic and it only takes a split second.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

The person used vulgar name calling toward me in a now deleted response. So yeah, maybe.

I reported it, too.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Falling into the water accidentally is one thing. My concern is why this child was not noticed by the parents for the 8-10 minutes they estimate he was underwater. That is not a moment of inattention. We have not heard if this child was supposedly being supervised by someone else, but certainly someone was not doing their job.

I never thought of that. Some kids are good at giving parents the slip by getting them to each believe the other has him/her.

 

[cruisingtwins]

If I am remembering right, I thought it was a case of him bolting from the elevator or getting on an elevator and his parents frantically searching the deck and by the time they found it he was in the pool. It was so tragic and it only takes a split second.

No he was i the mickey pool with his parents.

 

[RedSox68]

No he was i the mickey pool with his parents.

Oh, okay. I know there was a story about a child who got away from his parents and by the time they found him it was too late. Not sure which Disney ship that was on though. Thanks.

 

[TeaBee]

Sorry, but can you explain again why your 2 year old was allowed to wander alone near deep water?
Why was she not in a harness or held by one of you?
That would never have happened to one of my kids near a body of water or even a pond.

She wasn't wandering. She was standing right next to three adults who were talking and monitoring the other kids in the pool. She was literally a foot away from me and less from my husband. She was not normally a wanderer and was usually quite cautious and nervous around the water. We weren't holding her hand because she was literally inches away and generally much preferred clinging to one of our legs rather than running away. Her slipping in to the water was completely out of character and unexpected. And that was my whole point in posting this story. Unexpected things happen. Accidents happen. Even if you believe you're the best, most perfect parent in the entire world, sometimes you're taken off guard.

 

[laceltris3]

I would like to think this would never happen to my family, just as I would like to believe that I would never have forgotten my child in a hot car. We are attentive in the pools and I literally sit on the edge of the Mickey pool and tell my kids to stop running before the whistle is blown. I dress the younger boys alike and in bright rash guards (like orange and other bright patterns) so I can easily pick them out. That said, accidents happen. Other kids may not be as innately obedient as yours. It's not necessarily bad parenting. With any of these tragedies, my first thought is "There but for the grace of God..."

 

[TestingH2O]

A sad update: the boy has died.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article88970617.html

 

[hanscarlet]

So sad, just heard he died too... sounds like he was braindead when they got him out of the water, his parents probably had to choose to take him off of life support... it's not the same but kind of like the alligator situation, I can't imagine going on vacation and thinking I wasn't going to return from vacation without one of my babies , many prayers to this family

 

[Mrs Green]

A sad update: the boy has died.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article88970617.html

So so sad. Thank you for the update though. My thoughts continue for his loved ones.

 

[ChristinaDK]

When I was a teen, I went to a indoor water park with waves in one of the pools. As a Dane I have swim since I was 6, so I'm quite good. But there was a small boy that didn't swim, that almost drowned me, as he hold my head down, when the waves came. It was so scary. I only made it, as the waves stopped, so I could walk in

 

[stinkerella]

As we were leaving a Disney pool my son and I were back at the room when my husband came back to the room with my daughter both of them soaking wet. Apparently my three year old daughter had thrown off her towel and yelled, "I'm a mermaid!" She then ran and jumped back into the pool. My husband followed her with shorts, socks and sandals. It can happen in seconds. Don't judge. Show compassion.

 

[belac]

A sad update: the boy has died.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article88970617.html

So sad, no words but so many prayers to that family.

I too wonder how I would react in a situation like that, being an adult, good swimmer, but lazer focused on my own child that isn't a strong swimmer. I can't say (being totally honest here) if I would notice a child in trouble in a crowded or semi crowded pool, since I am totally focused on my DS. Scary realization, but a realization none the less. If anything I may now take better notice of the other children in a pool that I am in.
DS has had swimming lessons, but still not a strong swimmer so yes I am completely focus on him in such and any water situation. Heck I don't even trust family to watch him around water. My parents live in FL and many times dad volunteers to takes my son to the pool, so I worry and go or DH goes with them. I know what may happen in a second and dad isn't used to being a hawk any longer. Yes overprotective in certain situations, like life safety. Most other times I am pushing him to be more independent, but not by water, until a time comes that I can trust it is safe around water for him.

So yeah, shocked me thinking how could no one notice at first, then really putting that question on to myself, I can't say for sure if I would notice. It is the false sense of thought that everyone thinks the same way you do in a life safety situation, that if I am watching my child so closely the parents of the other children are also doing the same with theirs, and they may very well be doing so, but it really only takes a moment. So going forward I will make a conscience effort to assess the pool I am in, or near for all the children.

 

[bumbershoot]

belac, drowning doesn't look like what we think it looks like. Have you seen the videos of situations where someone is drowning and saved? NO ONE around the person notices the person. If you haven't seen those videos, google them. It's eye opening.

And consider a proper safety vest for your child. I'm getting Royal and Disney confused, but I KNOW that Royal ships have the vests (at least the ships I've been on, and some on cruisecritic posted that Anthem has them), and I think Disney does. Be sure to hook the between-the-legs strap so the vest doesn't just pop right up off the shoulders.

 

[belac]

belac, drowning doesn't look like what we think it looks like. Have you seen the videos of situations where someone is drowning and saved? NO ONE around the person notices the person. If you haven't seen those videos, google them. It's eye opening.

And consider a proper safety vest for your child. I'm getting Royal and Disney confused, but I KNOW that Royal ships have the vests (at least the ships I've been on, and some on cruisecritic posted that Anthem has them), and I think Disney does. Be sure to hook the between-the-legs strap so the vest doesn't just pop right up off the shoulders.

Yes when in deep-ish water where he can't plant his feet flat at the bottom he wears a vest, always. I let him practice swimming in 3'-3.5' water without a vest where he can stand up with head fully out of water but us by his side.
The life vests Disney has a child could easily slip out without that strap and they are bulky and uncomfortable. The rule is he wears it with the strap or no pool time. We have USCG approved Nylon at home which is more comfy & less bulky, but I'm not about to pack one for a cruise, where they are provided.
But like PPs said above sometimes kids do not realize so we better realize for them. I will take a look at some videos, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[BigredNole]

belac, drowning doesn't look like what we think it looks like.

Drowning is a silent killer. People assume it is what they show on tv and movies. It is completely opposite. There is no splashing or screaming or audible noise.

 

[RedSox68]

Drowning is a silent killer. People assume it is what they show on tv and movies. It is completely opposite. There is no splashing or screaming or audible noise.

Agree, and especially if the person has hit their head or passed out and can't save themselves.