Drowning doesn't look like drowning...

[The Yakima Kid]

Beware of toddlers and buckets. They fall in and they can't get out because they are so top heavy.

 

[Spookwriter]

You were a mortician? That would be an interesting job, but
also a heart breaking job.

I waited a lifetime for my daughter. What a blessing she's
been in my life.

I don't understand parents who don't pay attention to their children.
I never did. I'll never manage to do anything in my life thats more
important than being a daddy.

Two quick tales...

Little boy in town, Buddy, has leached onto me. Seven years old. Little
fellow hangs out with me anytime he gets a chance. But Buddy's dad is
THERE. Always within eyeball distance. I say that with all due respect to
Buddy's father. Awesome father.

You see my little buddy...just look around. His daddy is right close. I admire
that.

Another story, another daddy. This one is a little different.

Remember my story about the young girl I kidnapped for my brother? She grew
up and got married. I knew her well. I visited in their home many times.

They had a daughter neither one deserved. And I would visit just to play with
the girl. Saw that they had food, that the baby had clothes. Watched her grow
up.

Her father? Doing life in prison. She was five years old when that happened.

Her mother? Parts unknown. She just disappeared one day. Left the girl with
her husbands mother after school one day and just never came back.

Being a parent is serious business.

 

[4Hchickenproject]

I too can attest to the fact that drowning children may not make any noise or splash at all. We were at a pool party, my cousin's house. Above-ground pool, probably 4+ feet deep. We had several children in the water, lots of pool toys, floaties, balls, etc. Everybody splashing and screaming, having a blast.

Then someone yelled "Where's Chase?" We all looked, and finally found him at the bottom of the pool. He was sort of balled-up and really just looked like a submerged toy or something. Not moving at all. He was about 7 years old at the time but a pretty good swimmer, had been jumping in and swimming around for quite a while.

To this day we still have no idea what happened, but fortunately he wasn't under long (thanks to all the parents sitting around the pool watching), and he began coughing as soon as he was pulled from the water. He was very confused, awake but not alert, unaware of what was going on. I'm sure only a short time longer and he wouldn't have been so lucky! Everyone was so upset, we all just got out. Party over.

Thanks to the OP for posting, it's always good to have a friendly reminder!

 

[mikensara]

thank you for this post.

showing this to hub

 

[mikensara]

Quote:
Thats great news

he was ok and a tragic accident was avoided.

 

[pdsavage]

I was a SAHM and took the kids to the pool and stayed with them,it allways made me sad to see parents barley even stop to let little kids out at the pool and as fast as they could take off.
I stayed as I didnt trust the life gaurds,heck I didnt trust anyone with my kids.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I have taught swim lessons for 25 years. I lifeguarded for 15. I have coached a swim team for 22 (17 at the same pool!). I have spent a lot of time around pools.
Some thoughts:

- You can be a lifeguard at age 15. Most pools allow a single lifeguard to be on duty. There are no limits on hours worked in a day at most pools. I used to work 8-10 hours a day. So most pools have a really young lifeguard staring at a pool for 8+ hours a day all by themselves with no adult manager on site to keep an eye on them. Essentially a child is responsible for the life and safety of every person in that pool.

- A well trained, good lifeguard will scan the pool constantly. The truth is that sometimes they focus on certain areas where trouble is more likely (like the deep end). They almost NEVER guard the baby pool area. It is assumed that parents will watch their children in the baby pool.

- Anybody of any age and any swimming ability can drown. The last person pulled out of my home pool was in her late 20s. She got up to dive into the deep end, fell and didn't come back up. Thankfully the 17 year old lifeguard noticed something was strange and went after her quickly. He and a friend who had just happened to stop by (also a lifeguard) were able to get her out of the pool and rescue breath until the paramedics showed up. The woman is alive and well today. The theory is that she had been drinking, got too hot and passed out as she got in to cool off. But who knows?

- Children generally have more confidence than ability. Some children have no fear of deep water and will enthusiastically jump in without understanding that they cannot stand up. It never occurs to them. They can be in trouble in a heartbeat.

_ Every single child that I have gone in after has been silent. There were no calls for help. There was no frantic splashing. They just didn't come up. In every single case their eyes were wide open and panicked. Their arms were under water trying to push the water down. Their heads were back as they tried to get their face above water. They were completely vertical in the water. All were in 5' of water or less.


Most children do not have the motor skills to really swim until they are 7 or 8 years old. Younger kids can be taught to kick and paddle before that age, but they just don't have the strength and coordination to really swim. They can (and should) be taught basic water safety from very early on. Even very small children can learn to kick their way back to a wall and grab on. Some can be taught to float. All can be taught to stay out of the pool if mommy or daddy are not with them.

Swim lessons are the way to go. Start them young (age 3-5) and keep them in lessons until they can really swim. A swim team is a great way to build their swimming skills because they get a lot of practice in a very short time.

Adults should be able to swim as well. If you cannot swim, search out adult lessons. Fear is usually the hardest part for adults to overcome. The mechanics of swimming aren't that hard. Conquering fear is. It is so worth it in the end.

If you have a home pool and you cannot swim it would be wise to learn basic rescue techniques. Most lifesaving techniques are done from the edge of the pool. You should NEVER go in after someone. A panicked child can hold a full size adult under the water with ease. Learn reaching and throwing techniques.

I love being at the pool. It is also terrifying, especially now that I have young nieces.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Every state has different laws...something a lot of folks seem to forget. So, in one place any driving may be illegal, in another, only on public roads. Texas has (or at least had) hardship licenses available to kids as young as 14, allowing them to drive legally. Two of my cousins three kids had them. Third turned 14 and was told, nope, too many drivers in your house for there to be a hardship. Lots of folks in the country north of Dallas let their kids drive, both on and off the ranches and farms, and while on the road it was illegal, no one did anything about it.

 

[welsummerchicks]

This can even happen with little children in a bath tub. They don't struggle, they don't wave, nothing.

Yes quite often, children will drown right in front of their parents. It's not unusual. No struggle, no splashing, nothing.

 

[Dar]

and my 8 year old daughter wonders wny I make her wear a life jacket when we are at the beach... in the pool there are 3 kids in there so I will give her a lil wiggle room but a grown up is there..

I still make her wear the life jacket with the crotch strap cause she is really skinny and lean.. she is only 50lbs and the jacket is rated for 90... I'm good till shes in high school.