Death at DW today

[Sonno]

<<A 911 call at 11:21 a.m. said the boy, identified as Michael Russell, was unconscious and not breathing after the ride. The Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, which responds to emergency calls at Walt Disney World, noted in the 911 call report that there was no defibrillator available until rescue workers arrived about 11:26 a.m.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was declared dead en route to Celebration Hospital after the incident, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.<<

They say his name has not been released, but isn't it in the paragraph above?

I noticed that as well. I think the poster made a compilation.

 

[sandybobandy]

I noticed that too. Maybe the name mentioned is the caller's name???

 

[chipscinderelly]

I noticed that too. Maybe the name mentioned is the caller's name???

caller is a female, her name and phone number are edited out (thank goodness)

Prayers to this family!

 

[WDWguru]

I haven't read through the entire post, so this may have been mentioned, but after reading the article it sounds like WDW doesn't have defibrillators readily available. This is a huge shock IMO, because I have worked for malls for the past several years as a customer service supervisor, and we've always had defibrillators available, in the fact the mall that I'm at now has them in certain places in the mall so that security and mall personnel don't have to wait for paramedics to arrived (we're trained to use them). They can make the difference at times in life and death, not saying that this boy wouldn't have passed away regardless, but still, I would think that they would have them more readily available and the staff trained.

They do have them available, all over property in fact, and their CMs are trained to use them. They are also posted with instructions. The locations are marked on just about every map, too. They just didn't have one stationed right at RRC, so didn't have one until the EMTs showed up. However, as I said above, that doesn't necessarily mean someone is saved just because there's a defibrillator near by. Very specific conditions have to be met before one is useful, and even then their use does not always result in a positive outcome.

 

[Vannah]

Prayers for his family.
Let's hope they know it was his time to go, that he had served his purpose on earth.

 

[summerrluvv]

This is so sad. I'm just waiting for my mother to call and lecture me about the rides and my boys. I think I'm going to add physicals to my "to do" list just before we go in October. Actually, both boys have physicals this summer, I'm going to request extra attention to their heart checks. I have noticed a lot more incidents of young adults having heart attacks and such in the past few years, mostly athletes though. Anyway... my heart definitely goes out to that family.

Such a sad story

If you have an underlying heart condition that could result in death from a ride, I don't think it's going to be detected during a standard physcial other than a common heart murmur. An echocardiogram would probably be one of the best ways to detect any problems, but those aren't done during routine physicals. DS has had one because of other problems and his heart is healthy and normal they say.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

This is so sad for the family, my prayers are with them too.

My little 15 month old niece was born without the left side of her heart. The 6 ultrasounds didn't pick up on it and after she was born, the doctors detected a heart murmur, but said that was common. No further checkup of her heart. Then 36 hours after she was born the nurse noticed that her coloring was off so she wanted to do a test just in case due to the heart murmur. Well, 48 hours after that she was having open heart surgery at Boston Childrens Hospital. the left side of her heart (where the blue blood gets oxygenated ) didn't develop. Thank GOD for donations for research that they now can save most of the babies lives.

However, there are so many kids out there that don't know that they have heart problems. The statistic say 1 in every 100 kids are born with a heart defect. All babies need to be checked when they are born and they are not. There are many different heart defects, my niece had one that required open heart surgery, then 3 months after that my co-workers daughter was born with 2 holes in her heart. She didn't require surgery and 1 has closed up, but she could still be a risk. My niece will NEVER be able to go on a roller coaster or play sports , etc. She can't even go in the pool, because she turns blue from the water being colder than 98.6.

We all think that heart disease is only for older people, but its happens to babies and kids too. God bless their family!!

 

[Dustmouse]

This is truly heartbreaking! My DS13 LOVES RnRC and rode it twice during our trip three weeks ago. I did not hesitate to let him ride it and would still allow him to do it again, but I cannot imagine the pain the family must be enduring...

 

[stemikger]

My prayers go out to this family.

Last year I went on this ride for the first time. My wife and I were trying to get my daughter to go on and she didn't want to. I told her I'd check it out and went on alone. I'm soooo glad I didn't put her on that ride. This ride didn't agree with me at all.

The takeoff was just too much for my 41 year old body. I told my wife it is a good thing her and my daughter didn't go on.

Parents should check out the rides first and then decide if they think it would be good for their kids.

IMHO I think coaster and thrill ride designers have pushed the limits on what our bodies can handle. I know I sound like an old fart, but I long for the day of a nice old fashioned 30 mph wooden coaster.

 

[daisax]

That said, my husband works in emergency services and a defibrilator is NOT a cure-all miracle device. Several conditions must be met before one is used (ie heart issue rather than breathing, a certain type of rhythm) and even if it is, it isn't always effective. It's not like on tv where it works every time - in fact, MOST of the time it doesn't.

Also, even when it DOES work, the mortality rate once the person gets to the hospital is pretty high. Still, for the small percentage who do go on to live, it's certainly worth the try!

 

[msgrimm23]

how sad. my heart sinks everytime i here someone has died at disney

 

[Tidus]

I know defibrillators (sp) might not always work, but why wouldn't they have them at WDW? I know that small towns have tried to raise money so that athletic programs or local fire departments could have them, so why would Disney?
This is such a tragedy, regardless of why it happened. It really makes me sick when people make comments about wondering if this family will sue Disney too. I think that is the last thing this family cares about at this moment and we shouldn't be concerned about it. The family of the 4 year old boy may be trying to get things changed, such as defibrillators being available. I don't know the inside details of what happened and I would not question whether what they are doing is right or wrong. That's not for me to decide.

 

[GoofyTraci]

I feel so sad to hear these kind of things. His family will be in my prayers.

 

[Dustmouse]

I think other posters have a point about people feeling a false sense of security at Disney. Maybe they get so caught up the magic that they aren't as cautious as they might otherwise be. After all, no one is supposed to get sick or hurt or most certainly die at Disney World! Even my own DH pushed himself at Disney when he probably shouldn't have. He bragged that his BP was down to 130/70, but that is only because he takes multiple medications.

 

[TN Traveler]

Wow, how terrible. I cannot imagine the pain the family is going through. I became very concerned when I first heard it b/c here (TN) there hasn't been any information as to where the child is from. I have clients that left for Disney yesterday and were planning to go to either MGM or MK today.....they have a 12 yr old son!!

As a travel agent, I feel responsible to my clients and remind them all the time to pay attn to age and height requirements, wear good walking shoes, carry bottles of water, go back to your resort when it gets too hot etc. It just breaks my heart to hear something like this.

When we went 2 yrs ago my then 4 yr old, wanted to ride the RNR but I refused due to height requirements. She was upset w/me but I reminded her they are there for a reason and we have to follow the rules. Not saying this famiy broke any rules at all, I'm just saying I think Disney does all they can do to protect folks the best they can.

Prayers to this family for their tragic loss....and to the CMs who had to witness this terrible ordeal.

 

[wendypooh]

Very sad news ~ thoughts and prayers for the family.

 

[dustysky]

so sad for the family.... i know last year dh and i rode it and his restraint came loose a bit he thought he was going to fall out and he told a cm about it and they told him that it was ok!

I am a heavy lady and I like the restraints to be TIGHT on me, when they were not and I asked them to push it down another click they said the same thing to me. It was the ONLY time I rode that ride with fear
RNR happens to be my fav. ride and I normaly ride it at least 3 times per visit. I will continue to do so but I will make sure a family member pushes down on the restraint for me before they sit down.

 

[M&M's]

I'm shocked (no pun intended, really) that of all places, Disney doesn't have AED's everywhere in the parks. I suppose that if guests saw them in plain sight, it could take a way from the whole 'magic' of being in a Disney park, where we all like to not be reminded about death. But at least they could have them somewhat hidden and the locations known to all CM's (by some symbol, perhaps).

AED's are so simple to use (virtually foolproof), and when used in the first hour (the aptly named 'golden hour') after a heart attack, they increase the chances of survival greatly.

Disney should really consider putting AED's in the parks and training all CM's on their use. We will never know, but it could have prevented a tragedy like this.

 

[JudyS]

First, very sad story and I'm very sad for the family. That said, my husband works in emergency services and a defibrilator is NOT a cure-all miracle device. Several conditions must be met before one is used (ie heart issue rather than breathing, a certain type of rhythm) and even if it is, it isn't always effective. It's not like on tv where it works every time - in fact, MOST of the time it doesn't.

Yes, but in one of the two Mission:Space deaths, the cause of death was a cardiac arythmia brought on by the (physical or emotional) stress of being on the ride. That's exactly the sort of condition that AEDs (Automatic External Defibrilators) are designed to treat, and they work very well in those situations if used immediately. It's when the heart problem is caused by a blocked artery that an AED is unlikely to work.

We don't know what caused this most recent death, but given how sudden it was and how young the victim was, it could easily have been the same thing, a sudden arythmia. So, it's possible that with AEDs handy, both of the children who died recently would have survived.

I'm very surprised that Disney doesn't have AEDs by their rides. AEDS cost less than $2,000 these days, and a person can be trained on them in about 30 minutes.

I believe that Disney does have AEDs at many of the resorts.

 

[jjarman]

I know defibrillators (sp) might not always work, but why wouldn't they have them at WDW? I know that small towns have tried to raise money so that athletic programs or local fire departments could have them, so why would Disney?
This is such a tragedy, regardless of why it happened. It really makes me sick when people make comments about wondering if this family will sue Disney too. I think that is the last thing this family cares about at this moment and we shouldn't be concerned about it. The family of the 4 year old boy may be trying to get things changed, such as defibrillators being available. I don't know the inside details of what happened and I would not question whether what they are doing is right or wrong. That's not for me to decide.

I think the defibrillators give you a false sense of security. It is my understanding they are only for specific instances and even then don't always work. I worked in a busy emergency room in Dallas for 4 years and never, not ever, saw someone come in in full CPR that made it. I can only think of one instance where they got a heartbeat back and that one died later that evening. I know CPR works sometimes but in my experience by the time someone starts CPR it is already too late.