They shouldn't have been swimming...

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ETA (oops.. I put this in the wrong forum)

This week is spring break in our area.

We have a lot of kids on our block, but only one family of young kids has a parent at home during the day. Everybody else is working.

ALL the kids know, there is no swimming while the parents are gone.

Yet, today, the neighbor boy had a bunch of neighbor kids over to swim. I guess they thought they'd get away with it and nobody would find out.

But, the third grade girl from across the street jumped in the pool backwards and split her chin open. I heard her crying, I heard the boys yelling at her to stop crying. They kept saying "here, use this towel".

So, I looked out front, to see if they had gone out there. I saw a bunch of blood leading across the street, and a puddle of blood in front of the garage door. (there's an alarm keypad on the garage door for the kids to get in and out of)

So, I called the one parent that I know is home. (I have a daycare in my hosue and couldn't leave the kids to go over there and find out what happened)

Neighbor mom goes over and this poor kid is bleeding from the inside and outside of her mouth. Neighbor mom can't stop the bleeding, and the little girl can't seem to close her mouth. So, neighbor mom calls 911.

Wouldn't you?

911 comes over, they can't reach a parent. They can't reach anybody, so the paramedics look her over, decide that her jaw could be broken, and transport her to a hospital. Someone FINALLY reaches dad's cell phone, and he's two hours away in another town. So, he tracks down the estranged mother who comes over here AND SCREAMS AT ALL OF US FOR CALLING 911.

Seriously? Not "how is she?" Or "where is she?" or "My poor baby"... NOTHING.. just "who called 911?" All I said was "they took her to J*** * L****** hospital, you might want to GO THERE and check on her.

Mom continues to rant and demands to know how it happened. "Um.. they were swimming, and she fell on the cool decking... but, she's going to be fine, if ya want to get back in your little car there and go see her".

I mean WHO DOES THIS????? Who gets mad first, BEFORE going to check on their child? The only person at the hospital with that little girl was her 12 yr old brother who was freaking out.

Can you envision yourself wanting to talk to the neighbor that called 911 BEFORE going to see how she is?

[Mama2Bug]

People react to emergencies in weird ways sometimes. She probably wasn't thinking straight. I'm sorry that you had to bear the brunt of it though.

I hope the little girl is okay. Her injury sounds really painful.

[2xy]

Well, I don't know these parents, obviously, but maybe they were a little freaked out about a huge bill for an ambulance ride?

I was a latchkey kid, and I was home by myself at age eight, but my parents were always reachable. And this was BEFORE cell phones. If the parents can't be reached in an emergency, they should really have childcare for a third grader.

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I just talked to Dad. Her jaw is broken, and she needs a surgery in a day or two.

Poor kid.

Anyway.. I didn't mention anything about the mom. (they are divorced and she only see's them occasionally)

But, I was dying to say "I understand why you are divorced" Obviously, since I have no idea why they are divorced, I kept that little thought in my head.

But, he did say that the hospital security forced mom to leave the hospital because she created such a scene there. The 12 yr old is fine, and he seemed pretty proud of himself for handling things as best he could.

The third grader is home, and will go back tomorrow for more tests. But, he made it sound like the surgery will be in a few days.

[beachbaby]

all around.

I once called 911 at work when a patron began vomiting blood right next to my desk in the public library. She later came back to complain, since she had to pay for the ambulance ride to the hospital.

[LynnS6]

Poor kid, crazy mom. This is one reason why I am very grateful that my spring break will nearly always coincide with my kids. I can't imagine leaving a 3rd grader home all day alone, even if her older brother is with her! (Heck, I can't imagine leaving a 10th grader home alone for 8 hours at a stretch!)

I hope that the neighbor who had the kids to swim will do some restitution! (FWIW, his parents' homeowner's insurance will probably be liable.)

[bramblevine]

I'm with you. : I would have been screaming at you to tell me where my kid was.

Poor baby, that must hurt a lot and be so scary. Sounds like her big brother did though!

On the positive side, talk about natural consequences.

[LittleBlessings]

I would of also called 911. I hope the girl has a good recovery.

[Girlprof]

This story makes me feel ill. What happened is so bad and it could have been so much worse. I do not understand how ALL those parents had their kids home w/o supervision???? WTH? My DH and I both work full time and I know that finding care over break can be a pita. But it's just what you DO. Poor poor little girl.

[Hey Mama!]

Oh jeez that is crazy! Isn't there laws regarding leaving certain aged children at home alone?

[newbymom05]

I haven't even read the other replies, this was such a disturbing story! Good for you and the SAHM neighbor, shame on that mother, and hugs to that poor big brother.

I would hope my neighbors would be as conscientious and helpful as you and your friend!

[philomom]

Originally Posted by Hey Mama!

Oh jeez that is crazy! Isn't there laws regarding leaving certain aged children at home alone?

Yes. I don't know what it is in Oregon but in Georgia the law stated that a 10 year old may be left alone for "short periods of time". A child may not be left to supervise younger children unless they were 13 years old or more.

[TwinsTwicePlusTwo]

First, the situation you're describing is horrible. Poor little girl!

However, I don't *think* there is actually a specific law regarding leaving children home alone (at least not here in Oklahoma). There's a big 'gray area' about when it becomes OK to leave a child home alone, and for how long. The number I hear most frequently is 10 to be home alone or 12 to babysit younger siblings, in which case it sounds like what your neighbor was doing was within the range of acceptable (expect for her reaction when she found out what happened, holy crap!).

I honestly would be very comfortable leaving my 11yo daughter home alone for 8+ hours (she's extremely responsible), however I wouldn't be comfortable with her 'supervising' her younger siblings.

[TwinsTwicePlusTwo]

Originally Posted by philomom

Yes. I don't know what it is in Oregon but in Georgia the law stated that a 10 year old may be left alone for "short periods of time". A child may not be left to supervise younger children unless they were 13 years old or more.

I just found a (legit looking) website that says the law for Oregon is that no child under the age of 10 may be left alone, however they don't have a specific babysitting law and 'recommend' age 12 or 13 as youngest acceptable age for supervising siblings. Is the OP is Oregon?

Like I thought, Oklahoma doesn't have a law

[philomom]

Originally Posted by TwinsTwicePlusTwo

I just found a (legit looking) website that says the law for Oregon is that no child under the age of 10 may be left alone, however they don't have a specific babysitting law and 'recommend' age 12 or 13 as youngest acceptable age for supervising siblings. Is the OP is Oregon?

Like I thought, Oklahoma doesn't have a law

She doesn't say where she is.. but the owners of the "pool house" could be in trouble with the law for having left kids unsupervised. I'd check her state laws and consider calling CPS.

[Mary-Beth]

Hopefully the kids learn a big lesson about never swimming without permission and hopefully no parent actually gave them permission to swim without an adult present...

Sorry for this girls injury. I do hope they will not swim without an adult-- this could have been a drowning...

Staying home at a certain age is one thing-- I don;t know the right age I suppose it depends. Swimming alone / with friends is another thing all together...

[eepster]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

I just talked to Dad. Her jaw is broken, and she needs a surgery in a day or two.

Poor kid.

Anyway.. I didn't mention anything about the mom. (they are divorced and she only see's them occasionally)

But, I was dying to say "I understand why you are divorced" Obviously, since I have no idea why they are divorced, I kept that little thought in my head.

But, he did say that the hospital security forced mom to leave the hospital because she created such a scene there. The 12 yr old is fine, and he seemed pretty proud of himself for handling things as best he could.

The third grader is home, and will go back tomorrow for more tests. But, he made it sound like the surgery will be in a few days.

Do they live with the dad?

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Originally Posted by eepster

Do they live with the dad?

These kids live with the dad. It's a large family with five kids, ages 8-17. So, THEY were supposed to be supervised, but the older kids weren't around.

The other kids live on the block.

The pool house boy is an only child. He is old enough to have known that...

#1. There is no way that the cool decking could have dried in time before his mom came home. So, she would have figured it out on her own anyway.

#2. They were making enough noise that people three blocks away could have heard them, so obviously, SOMEONE would have ratted them out.

But, he took the chance anyway. He's grounded for the rest of spring break. He's not a happy kid. But, he's been good about it.

She was the only girl swimming, and she was three years younger than the rest of the kids, so she was showing off a bit. Nobody caused it, kids just get hurt. It probably would have happened if there were adults. But, at least there would have been some adults to help her.

She looks good today. She needs to have some teeth fixed, and she has some stitches inside and outside of her mouth.

[amcal]

Oh heavens That's awful That poor girl.

Just on a side note, I think I know that hospital! I read your post like the stars weren't even there and then went back and thought - Oh! I know that place!

[bramblevine]

Originally Posted by philomom

But the owners of the "pool house" could be in trouble with the law for having left kids unsupervised. I'd check her state laws and consider calling CPS.