Where do I start...........

[fireplug]

I know that many people post here looking for pixie dust and/or prayers and I do as much as I can with good thoughts and kind words. Sometimes I have mentioned a bad call that I have been on and many have responded with very kind words.
This brings me to my problem,
How can I ask for thoughts and prayers for the family of a small child (9 yr old) who has just died from injuries she recieved on a go kart.
These people allowed their precious child to hurdle around in a farm yard full of heavy farm machinery and semi-trailers, on a motoized vehicle at the age of 9. Oh and lets not make her wear a helmet, or seatbelt. Without getting into too many details her long hair got tangled in the drive pulley, pulling her head back and she rammed into a parked semi-trailer. We worked very hard at saving her but I am afraid it was for naught. A young childs life snuffed out in an instance by an accident.
When will people learn that motorcycles,atvs, go karts etc are not TOYS for CHILDREN. If they are ignorant enough to let them PLAY on them then they should at least make them SAFER, wear helmets, tie up hair, proper clothes etc. Maybe even a law that puts them behind bars for endangering their child. They give tickets for no car seats, maybe a hefty fine would help.
All I know is I am very tired of watching children be sacrificed to the chants of "My child will have an atv(etc) if they want one because I say so". Because each time it does the memories of those young faces stay with me.
So I ask you how does one go about asking for prayers for her family?
Say all your prayers for her.

Sorry to be so morbid and angry sounding but sometimes I just have to vent.

Thanks

Steve

 

[RNMOM]

Steve, so sorry for what you have been through. It is very hard to be kind and gentle with people who have "deliberately" put a child in harms way. I don't understand a lot of it. To say that life in general is dangerous is true but do we need to add to that with fireworks, mechanical devices that take experience to control and countless other devices that harm?

My kids have been more of computer geeks and video gamers, to a degree, and personally I am glad for that. The boy next door has a motorized scooter and sometimes there are half a dozen of them zipping around the street. It is a busy side street and they cross the main road. No helmets or pads.

That poor dear girl is at peace but her family will have to live with the decisions they have made for the rest of their lives. Lets hope they learn from it and keep other kids off ATV's.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by fireplug
....So I ask you how does one go about asking for prayers for her family?....

I think you just did, Steve. Very sad, but what you say is so correct. Those can all be so dangerous, but the risk could be minimized a bit with proper safety items.....helmets, etc.

So very sorry to hear about the young life snuffed out and the pain and heartache the family will forever have. My prayers are with them, and you, Steve, and your fellow firefighter/paramedics.

 

[debster812]

Oh Steve I cannot tell you how sorry I am.

I get made fun of, because my 6YO DS does not enter a fenced in pool deck without his lifejacket on, and he does not get his little butt on his bike without his helmet. I don't care. I just don't care what they say, because his safety is PARAMOUNT.

I've mentioned this to you before, but my dad was an EMT/Firefighter before he retired (6 months after the Worcester Fire) and the stories you tell remind me so much of some of the ones he would come home with. I know how much some of the needless tragedies affected him, and I can see it in your posts as well.

I don't have anything else to say, except for you to keep doing what you do, as your work is so very important.

Hang in there!

 

[DocRafiki]

Wow-- that is horrible! And I thought pet parents were negligent. Don't you wish sometimes you could just wave a wand and banish all the stupidity that causes all this needless suffering? If we all could have your job for a month, I bet we'd shape up. I'm sure there's something careless that I'm completely oblivious about. But my hair stays tied up, even on theme park rides.

 

[Nutsy]

That is so sad & so tragic. It really does open our eyes tho to the dangers around us.

My kids used to have a go cart, but it was not motorised & they always wore a helmet & long pants & long sleeves when they were in it too.

The kid down the road from us the same age as my youngest DS & for a good couple of years now he & his mates have been riding around the streets on a trail bike. This kid is not 14 yet & although he may have a helmet & pads & stuff on, what he is doing is dangerous to himself & others.

I feel for this little girls family, what seemed like fun at the time sooned turned into a terrible tragedy

 

[Pooh93]

Parents just think they can turn their kids loose with these things and it'll happen to someone else. Imo parents want to be friends and not parents of their kids or are reliving their own youth and letting their kids do things their own parents would have never let them do.

A friend of a friend of mine at work just lost their 14 year old brother to a jet ski accident on a big lake in missouri. Evidently, there were two 14 year olds involved and they were driving recklessly and ran into each other. The one boy was killed.

Sad and senselesss.

 

[holycow]

Oh, Steve I am so sorry you have to see another child pass through this life because of irresponsible parents...so so sad


HC

 

[oldkicker]

That is so sad. Especially so since it could have been prevented. I can only imagine how awful everyone in that family feels today....

 

[JESW]

So very, very sad!!


One of my childhood neighbors, at age 30, died when the atv he was riding flipped over and crushed him. This was a kid who was wild in his youth and we can't believe he lasted so long. At that point in his life he had settled down some - but look what can happen to someone who had ridden those type of vehicles all his life.

And...he was riding it in the local woods with a long-time friend of his. When Donny didn't show up after a while John went looking for him. He has never been the same since he found his friend dead and couldn't do anything for him - and he was an emt.

Jill

 

[WDWLVR]

Steve,

That is very sad. Prayers definately for her family that they find peach. Prayers to you and your fellow firefighters. You have trained so long and hard, but I know no amount of training helps you get through something like this. Thank you for all you do.

 

[browneyes]

Steve, I don't see how people like you can do what you do, but I really appreciate what all you do for others. {{hugs}}

 

[peg2001]

Steve -

Thank you for sharing this story with us. Maybe it will cause a few parents to reconsider their actions and it certainly reconfirms the resolution of parents who deny their children the "fun" they see their friends having.

I have caused family friction by not allowing my FIL to ride my children around on his riding lawnmower. I did not like hurting his feelings but the safety of my children take precedence.

Peggy

 

[Scarlett & Rhett]

I bet the parents just hate themselfs right now, I will pray.

 

[CathyCanada]

These are not vents, Steve, they are very sensible warnings to people who think they are invincible.

That poor little girl, I will say a prayer for her and for you, I don't think I could do your job.
CC

 

[DaisyDebbie]

I'm constantly amazed at the number of children bike riding, rollerblading, etc. without protective gear

Maybe because my dh was Chief of our local Fire Dept. and saw many bad things as Steve has, it makes me more careful with my kids. I've learned how precious life can be. Alot of the time my kids are the only ones with helmets on when they are riding their bikes or scooters

I'm truly sorry Steve, I know you're having quite a summer, workwise

 

[honeywolf7]

That's so sad and SO negligent. That poor family will have to deal with guilt for a long time. I don't know how I would go on if that happened to one of my children because of my negligence.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

very sad story.

We have neighbors down the street who purchased a doon buggy for the kids at Christmas. I've had a nearly constant struggle since with my kids over saying that can't drive it, can't ride in it, and no not even with helmets.

I know the neighbors think I'm overprotective - which I am. I just can't imagine letting a 9yo drive that thing down the street and I know several of the other neighbors are getting more than a little tired of having to watch out for the thing when they are driving their cars home.

 

[chell]

Steve I'm so sorry to read this. Prayers on the way for her and for you too! Sometimes people just don't think.

Here's a {{{HUG}}} for you too!

 

[Towncrier]

Maybe even a law that puts them behind bars for endangering their child.

I don't think that you can legislate common sense. We already have way too many laws on the books that have been placed there to protect children from their parents' bad decisions. And they don't work. I think that perhaps these parents have been punished enough by the loss of their 9yo daughter. It is a shame that her parents didn't have the common sense to take measures to ensure her safety. This was an accident waiting to happen.

Prayers for you Steve. I'm sure that you and everyone else did everything possible to save this little girl's life. You did your best and that is a blessing.