Child Drowns at Art of Animation

[BraveLittleToaster2]

http://myfox8.com/2015/07/14/child-drowns-in-pool-at-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/

I cant seem to find any more information on this. How horrible!! My sympathies go out to the family!

 

[Carrie Gruber]

OMG this is so tragic! I cannot imagine the pain those parents are going through, my heart is breaking for that poor little boy and his family. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this terrible time. I know this was a terrible accident, and no one thinks this could ever happen to them, but PLEASE always remember to keep your eyes on your children at all times, especially around water. My son wandered away at Typhoon Lagoon on our last trip and although he was found (safe) within minutes, it was the scariest moment of my life when I realized he wasn't with me.

 

[Confederate Scott]

So sad to hear. My prayers to this family. May this child rest in peace with God in heaven.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Prayers to the Family

AKK

 

[Lisaloo]

Only horrible selfish parents who don't love their children take their eyes off of them! Just like the time my then 3yo darted out of the elevator as the doors were closing and made a beeline back to the pool. Elevator went to the 2nd floor and DH ran down the stairs. We were in a complete state of panic.

Now I know if, God forbid, something tragic happened I would spend the rest of my life having my parenting questioned by complete strangers. This family...my heart cracks for them.

Eta: quoted wrong post

 

[Carrie Gruber]

If you only knew how easy it is for a toddler/preschooler to "escape" your attention... Maybe they were near the pool, but maybe they weren't and the child just ran off.

As the oldest child of six and having four boys of my own, it happens. All it takes is two parents being distracted (think, parents have all their gear - "I can't get my MB to work. Try yours." Their attention gets focused on trying to open the door and juggle their stuff and next thing you know the child has wandered off). Or one parent thinks the child is with the other. Or any other number of scenarios.

Regardless, it is so very tragic and sad, and those poor parents will have to live with this the rest of their lives.

That's what happened to my husband and I. He thought I had my son, I thought he had him and just like that we lost him at Typhoon Lagoon and my immediate thought was that he was headed back to the wave pool. Thankfully a CM found him within minutes, but I near about had a heart attack thinking of the "what ifs". I'm heartbroken for this family, I cannot imagine the pain they are in right now.

 

[kamik86]

I don't know how AoA is laid out so I'll take a resort I know... AKL.

It would be very easy for a parent juggling food from Mara that they are going to take out to the tables or up to the room to take eyes of a child for just a second. Child goes out the door (someone else had it open) and.. are only a few steps from the pool.

With all the lounge chairs and plants in the area it would be easy enough for the parent to not manage to find and get to them again (3 year olds are FAST) before they were already in the pool.

As for other parents not noticing. They are focused on watching their kids and someone drowning doesn't look as obvious as it does in the movies.

 

[madhavok]

Does the pool have lifeguards? Was it crowded, do they limit the occupancy?

 

[kamik86]

Does the pool have lifeguards? Was it crowded, do they limit the occupancy?

Pools have lifeguards most of the time, unfortunately lifeguards can't watch everyone at once and these things happen so fast. The pools do get crowded. I can't say it was crowded but we are talking July in Florida so my first guess is probably.

However in a sense of if your kid got away from you for a second... if you go during off season at least I know the quiet pools often don't have lifeguards.

 

[pookadoo77]

SO SAD!!! Makes me thankful all we got was a spider bite in bed. That pool was CRAZY packed and hectic, especially after dark!! We were there about a month ago. I was glad to go to the spray play area. It was super easy to lose track of exact kid location. Briefly lost sight of 10 & 11 yr old in the pool. They have done swim team several years but accidents do happen so we are on high alert at pools still. After those few minutes we directed them to spray play. DH was max 2 feet from our non swimming 4 y.o. in the pool. What boggles me is no one saw this child alone??!! I saw plenty of other kids in the pool just by default. Then again I will watch / nicely call down other kids too if no parent nearby. There is a bar at the pool, no one seemed inebriated when we were there and the gates all lock. SO sad, don't think I personally could/would want to return. Poor family!! Hope if there is a way to make the big pool even safer so no other family has to go through this. Like maybe kids magic bands not opening the pool gates.... Or maybe more ppl on the lookout for other peoples kids. Dunno the magic answer just hoping something good can result from this tragedy!

 

[pookadoo77]

Does the pool have lifeguards? Was it crowded, do they limit the occupancy?

There were a few lifeguards that paced the edges constantly but we are talking a MASSIVE pool. And even though it is lit ok at night it is still hard, close to impossible to pin point a kid on the other side. We went June 10-15th, it was very crowded!! Did not see limiting occupancy. Did see lifeguard meetings in the mornings. They did close the pool one day when a thunderstorm came too, they seemed as on it as they could be, maybe a little understaffed though. We recall 2-3 walking and 1 sitting at tower. Not that I relax that much when lifeguards are present, watching kids is still ultimately my responsibility, IMO. Not that any one is to blame or wrong, just how I see it for myself.

 

[BagOLaughs]

http://www.slate.com/articles/healt...o_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

"In 10 percent of drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the victim is dying. It can take as little as 20 seconds. Here’s what to look for."

 

[kamik86]

SO SAD!!! Makes me thankful all we got was a spider bite in bed. That pool was CRAZY packed and hectic, especially after dark!! We were there about a month ago. I was glad to go to the spray play area. It was super easy to lose track of exact kid location. Briefly lost sight of 10 & 11 yr old in the pool. They have done swim team several years but accidents do happen so we are on high alert at pools still. After those few minutes we directed them to spray play. DH was max 2 feet from our non swimming 4 y.o. in the pool. What boggles me is no one saw this child alone??!! I saw plenty of other kids in the pool just by default. Then again I will watch / nicely call down other kids too if no parent nearby. There is a bar at the pool, no one seemed inebriated when we were there and the gates all lock. SO sad, don't think I personally could/would want to return. Poor family!! Hope if there is a way to make the big pool even safer so no other family has to go through this. Like maybe kids magic bands not opening the pool gates.... Or maybe more ppl on the lookout for other peoples kids. Dunno the magic answer just hoping something good can result from this tragedy!

I don't think there is a magic answer... There are things that will help though:

Teach kids that safety is EVERYone's job. Not just mom and Dads job. Everyone can have a buddy they are reasonable for watching out for as they play.

Not relying on the life guards like you said there are alot of people and it gets hectic. the drowning kid will generally be one of the most still quiet kids in the pool. Not the one that is loudly splashing about. See link the person above just posted on what to look for.

If the pools have gates that is great... I think more pools should (I posted about the pool just outside of Mara at AKL for example... that pool is scary close to the arcade, food areas, etc with no barriers to stop a fast little runner from getting in. )

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Folks, none of us know what happened or the conditions at the time and therefore cannot offer a good opinion of who or what, may or may not be to blame.

All that is important right now is Prayers for the family, friends and others that maybe involved.


AKK

 

[fitzperry]

I'm a little more surprised that someone didn't see the child either fall in or was struggling.

There have been a number of articles making the rounds on the Internet the last couple of years which explain that a person who's truly drowning doesn't look like we would expect. Someone struggling and flailing around may need help, but they're not actually drowning. A true drowning victim can't raise his arms out of the water. Google "what drowning really looks like" or something similar. It's changed what I look out for when watching kids in the water. And it helps illustrate how, unfortunately, something like this could happen in a crowded pool without anyone noticing.

 

[ffcheff]

Teaching children is the key. My daughter almost drowned in a 2 foot deep kiddie pool in the Dominican republic when she was 2 years old. I was sitting at the edge of that pool when she slipped and fell face first and did not know how to swim. Please get you and your children swimming lessons if you or your child does not know how to swim. May God bless the child and his parents.

 

[PollyannaMom]

http://www.slate.com/articles/healt...o_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

"In 10 percent of drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the victim is dying. It can take as little as 20 seconds. Here’s what to look for."

Thank you for this link. There are clues in it that I didn't know to look for.

 

[BagOLaughs]

Thank you for this link. There are clues in it that I didn't know to look for.

I thought the same thing which is why I like to share it I read a very similar article about a year ago, before that I had very little idea of what drowning actually looks like. Its a very scary thing and unfortunately all too common.

Like everyone else my thoughts are with the family. I can't even begin to understand how they must be feeling.

 

[pookadoo77]

http://www.slate.com/articles/healt...o_know_when_someone_is_in_trouble_in_the.html

"In 10 percent of drownings, adults are nearby but have no idea the victim is dying. It can take as little as 20 seconds. Here’s what to look for."

great article, I shared on Facebook and hope it goes viral.... thanks!

 

[ParrotBill]

The points made by many of us are not blame but prevention. People just aren't careful and watchful enough around pools! My daughter was never out of arm's length when around a pool up to age 6. She was the direct focus of my attention or my wife's at all times. Strict safety rules and active supervision was maintained until age 13. At age 14 I judged her capable to be out my sight and to take responsibility for her own safety with strong rules such swim with a partner, with adult nearby, no rough housing and move away from others who are.

I recently saw an excellent GIF clip that included a near drowning. It showed 2 seconds of the event in a large crowded wave pool... to see if you could spot the person in trouble by the same time the lifeguard did. I have lifeguard training and I had to watch the 2 second clip 3 times before I knew who it was. An average adult would never see it. In that case, a weak swimmer was using a float tube and was knocked off it. It reminded me of every minute I have ever spent in WDW water parks!