6yr old Drowned at our Gym pool... - Page 5

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

First, thank you for being both willing and able to act. As you saw, people like you are few and far between and the world is a better place because of you.

I would definitely put this in writing. Send the letter to the director at this particular gym facility, the risk manager at the corporate office (if its a chain, I'm sure they have one - you may be able to find an organizational chart on the website), and copy your local TV stations. If you have a local TV news station that does "consumer fraud" sorts of things (you know -- "I was ripped off by this big corporation and they won't talk to me" sorts of stories), that would be the perfect intro.

Things in writing are always better than a phone call in these situations.

And yes, please make sure you take care of yourself. These things are traumatic and you may well feel better after both taking action and talking to a counselor of some type.

[Kristine233]

I want to clarify a couple things that have been posted: As far as I know Lifegaurds are reuired to also be trained for infants and children. (I was trained in all and AED) Its a Professional Rescuer level of first aid and CPR/AED training required.

Also, the class isn't just a couple day thing if its a red cross sponsored one. If its a good course it should be near 40+ hours to complete and extensive training and testing. I know when I was done with each day of mine (it was a month long class) I was WIPED out tired and I'm a pretty good swimmer. If it seems like a class is just passing anyone I'd seriously question the instructor and talk to the local red cross office (if that is who is conducting it) about it.

There are good lifegaurds and bad ones. And it also depends on what the facility requires for continued training and policies. I know ours required a inservice meeting once a month to refresh on skills. They also had strict policies about no phones, no books, you could do nothing but watch the pool. No gaurds were allowed to work shifts longer than 3-4 hours at a time either. Before the current lifegaurd was hired on they had lax rules and there was even a report of a gaurd sleeping on duty. WTH? So yeah, there are good and bad.

If in doubt, ask what the training requirements are at the pool you swim at, who does the training/certification, what ongoing trainings are done and specific policies they may have in place.

[rightkindofme]

You've already been told everything I would say. Thank you so much for being quick to respond and paying attention to your surroundings. You are a wonderful person.

[snoopy5386]

so glad to hear the boy is ok. Please keep us updated on the story. Unfortunately it did not end so well for this little boy:
http://www.app.com/article/20100629/...-family-s-pool
This was the son of a friend of mine from high school - grandma was watching him and went out front for a smoke, the boy slipped out the unlocked back door. It was all over in a couple of minutes......so sad.

[*bejeweled*]

Thank God for people like you.

[Breathless Wonder]

Mandy- Wanted to send you a huge

That little boy would not be alive without you! Have you considered contacting the local newspaper?

I just wanted to link over to this thread, for anyone who has NOT seen it:
'PSA: Drowning...aka "I had NO idea it looked like that"'
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...php?p=15587842

Also, these are much older threads, but someone used to post a version of it almost every single year:
"The Pool - study finds most children drown while supervised "
2004: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=151496
2006: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=468167
2007: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=151496

[mammal_mama]

Mandy, it's truly wonderful that you saved this little boy's life. It's truly awful that his father wasn't supervising him.

It's inexcusable that a member of the staff was so rude to you when you called. If you remember her name I think you should let management know exactly what she said.

And, it would be nice if everyone knew better how to act in a life and death emergency. I sure hope I'll remember what to do and act as quickly as you did should I ever face one.

But I don't see how any of this was the fault of the facility. They clearly stated that there was no lifeguard on duty and parents needed to supervise their children. True, a staff person probably should have thought to send you a thank you card or something...

That said, if I were a member there, I'd hate to see more rules instituted which essentially punish ALL parents and children because SOME parents don't care to ensure their children's safety.

It's become so depressing at our local neighborhood pool. They won't let the children wear waterwings or use kickboards or anything. Our 10-year-old's a strong swimmer, but it'd be so nice for me if our 5-year-old could wear the wings so I could swim at her side and get some exercise myself instead of needing to stand up and hold her.

Don't get me wrong: I don't "trust" waterwings to guard the safety of my child. I'd still be there at her side to help her should she run into any trouble. But, from what the pool staff has told me, they quit allowing waterwings because some parents think their children don't need supervision if they're wearing them.

It's a real drag. I wish our neighborhood pool just had a sign that said "swim at your own risk" because I watch over my own children whether there's a lifeguard on duty or not. These days, we drive 30 minutes to swim at a lake and get away from all these pesky rules.

I'd hate to think that if someone at this lake wasn't watching their child and there was a tragedy, the lake would start "cracking down" and become another oppressive place. Maybe some parents feel safer when there's a lifeguard on duty, and rules rules rules up the wazoo -- but I say parents just need to watch their kids. Period.

[Earthy Mama]

We were at a family reunion Saturday and about 10 kids or more were in the pool at any given time. I'm very disappointed in dp's family that I was the ONLY one constantly scanning the pool to make sure all heads were either above water level or about to come up.
DP's neice (19 yo) just left me in charge at the last minute of her 6 yo sister who can't swim, has CP, AND just had surgery a few months ago on her leg so she could leave because she was bored.

[mammal_mama]

And see, I would never leave a 19-year-old, even one who's a lifeguard, in charge of my 6-year-old. Dh and I don't trust anyone but ourselves to supervise our children in the water when they're that young.

We did just recently let our 10-year-old, who swims really well, go swimming with our neighbors who we trust really well. This was a big first for us. I can't imagine doing that with a 6-year-old. And our oldest was actually swimming well by age 6, but we just always felt that one of us needed to be with her in the water at that age.

I do very strongly feel that no one can be as aware of my child in the water as dh or I can. Maybe that's why I don't care if there's a lifeguard on duty. I don't even trust them to be tuned in to my child.

I guess the rules really need to be there for those few children who have parents who couldn't care less about their safety in the water. It just makes it constrictive for the rest of us who'd like to swim freely, but have to resort to swimming in public places 'cause we can't afford to build our own pool or dig our own lake.

[laila2]

So glad you posted this

Swimming lessons start in late July for us. Our city ran gym in Ca does not let children under 7 be unattended. There are life guards.

Your experience sounds horrendous and I am sorry you are getting such a hard time from the gym. You deserve better.

At our gym at swimming lessons, a mom I know noticed her daughter in trouble on the first day of a new session, which is usually chaotic. The instructors were trying to organize amongst themselves while their charges were in the pool. Her little girl, 4, left the side of the pool, was struggling face down. The mom rushed to get her. The life gaurds did not notice till she reprimanded them loudly infront of all. I was so proud of her. She told me later that the little girl said, "mommy I was drownding and nobody was helping me".

It is good for us to hear these stories making us careful.

[Gypsymama22girls]

You are truly a hero!!!

I agree with the PP who said to contact the media. I think they will do some sort of expose about the safety of pools or whatever. I hope that something good comes of this horrible situation. Although, Thank G-d the boy is ok.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by mammal_mama

It's become so depressing at our local neighborhood pool. They won't let the children wear waterwings or use kickboards or anything. Our 10-year-old's a strong swimmer, but it'd be so nice for me if our 5-year-old could wear the wings so I could swim at her side and get some exercise myself instead of needing to stand up and hold her.

Don't get me wrong: I don't "trust" waterwings to guard the safety of my child. I'd still be there at her side to help her should she run into any trouble. But, from what the pool staff has told me, they quit allowing waterwings because some parents think their children don't need supervision if they're wearing them.

Waterwings are dangerous because 3-4-5 year old nonswimmers forget that they took them off, don't have them on yet, etc. and jump into deep water quickly and quietly. Waterwings also slow down swim learning in many children.

They should swim test for the kickboards rather than banning them outright.

[mntnmom]

First, you did a great job. I hope I can be that collected if I ever have to be. Second, if you continue to get no satisfaction from the gym, write a letter to the editor at your local paper. Legally, the gym is probably covered. But clearly something wasn't working and this poor little guy paid the price!

[RiverTam]

But I don't see how any of this was the fault of the facility. They clearly stated that there was no lifeguard on duty and parents needed to supervise their children. True, a staff person probably should have thought to send you a thank you card or something...

It's irresponsible to have a pool and not have lifeguards. My family doesn't belong to facilities that don't have lifeguards. (Our YMCA has lifeguards and requires parents to be in the pool in arm's reach of kids who are under 7 and are non-swimmers.)

I don't care if they have legal liability or not. I wouldn't belong to a club that has a pool and doesn't have a lifeguard. If they can pay "deck supervisors," they can pay lifeguards. It's only fifty cents an hour more.

It should be the parents' responsibility, but plenty of parents are idiots. If you own a facility, you should take some responsibility for your premises and for the kids on your premises.

I didn't have this opinion because I'm a non-swimmer, BTW. I'm an ex-high school swimmer who is currently trains for Olympic distance triathlons. I was a lifeguard in high school.

It's pretty common for a lot of people to stand around in a drowning situation. People don't know what to do. They panic. They hang back because they're poor swimmers. It's important to have a life guard there, because the life guard knows what to do, is capable of implementing the rescue, and can be the designated person in charge.

OP gets huge props for jumping in when nobody else was willing to do it. You're a hero.

[crunchymomofmany]

Just saw your first post - haven't read through most of the replies but just wanted to say that your story made me cry. I just feel so bad for the boy and you. What an amazing person you are.

[meemee]

OP i havent read the recent replies so if this has already been said please ignore this.

your title is a little misleading. and it was even more terrifying to read.

so instead of saying 'Drowned' (which means past event. which means he is already dead) it would really be helpful if you said 'nearly or almost drowned'.

[homebirthing]

I think he did drown and die. They brought him back to life.

[sleepingbeauty]

http://www.momlogic.com/2010/07/drow...ning_signs.php

I read this article a few days ago. I hope no one ever has to use the info in it, but everyone should give it a read.

[Snapdragon]

I only read the original post-
wow, that is horrible. I feel like crying right now from reading it. I am so sorry you had to experience that on every level. I am so sorry that little boy had to experience that. I am so sorry the dad is- I don't have a word for it that is appropriate to use here
I am so sorry everyone didn't help you and the poor little boy :cry
I am so glad you saved his life. This may be in this long thread but have you seen the boy since then? Have you called social services to check his family out? I feel very teary eyed from this story.

[Snapdragon]

now I re read the whole posts and I have something else to add. Just because the mom seemed nice and had attachment parenting things going on, does not mean the family should still not be checked out by someone- evaluated. From the story you told, that father needs to be evaluated. so sad