posted on June 20, 2001 03:36:13 PM
Just hoping to clear my head a little bit, so hope you will bear with me.
Yesterday I heard that a 4 year old boy drowned in a swimming pool. He was at a birthday party for Tommy lee (and Pamela Anderson's) little boy. My understanding is that there were adults around and they did not see him in time. They pulled him out and had called 911, but efforts to revive him failed.
Now my first thoughts upon hearing this is to jump instantly to my own 7 year old and I think to myself, "this would never happen to her." Even on the few occasions she is near a pool, her dad is right there with her-- etc, etc. As parents we do this when we hear of a childs death. Anything that will help our minds protect our own children as it is impossible to imagine anything happening to them. I was also thinking that she would never be in a rock stars care-- but again this is just more defense/mind protection. It means nothing. The thing is that I know better! I know that you can do everything to keep your child safe and sometimes things do still happen. Kids do still die.
This just makes me sad. That's all.
"I think it pi**** off god if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it." Alice Walker
posted on June 20, 2001 06:33:10 PM
here in Florida there is a similar story almost every week. why there are not laws requiring fences to be built around pools is beyond me!
posted on June 20, 2001 06:35:44 PM
Ashlandtrader,
It’s good for you to vent and I resonate with your sympathies, but in a different way. I had lost my mother to Alzhiemer’s Disease some 7 years ago. Much like cancer, the hideous thing about this disease is you can watch it coming. You fool yourself in preparation, but when it’s finally done it’s deed you discover you were never really prepared. On my 40th, Mama didn’t even know who I was. In another tale of loss, my cousin is still missing at sea. Death is a reality we all face whether 4, 44, or 74. It comes sooner for some than others and that’s just life. Death is something well all have in common. No I don’t believe God is the one to blame for any of this even though in a heat of anger or pain of sorrow it’s very easy to do. I know because I’ve been there myself. Anymore, I’m not so sure blame is really the right thing to do.
posted on June 20, 2001 08:46:15 PM
here *are* such fencing laws here in California, but things like this still happen. Little kids can get themselves into trouble in a matter of seconds. Fatal accidents will always be a possibility for children because you can't keep them chained to your ankle 24/7. That's a sad fact of life. But society doesn't want to hear that these days--someone *must* be to blame...
posted on June 20, 2001 11:26:22 PM
We have fence laws in some parts of the Valley here in Phoenix, but not all yet. They're trying very hard to pass them in every city (there's like 10 cities all rolled into one here). But, a child drowning can happen even in a bucket. We had 2 bucket drownings here within a week just last month. Drownings are so bad here, they keep a running count every summer. If i ever get around to having kids, I will definitely have a pool fence (providing I have a pool too ), even if it's a pain to us adults to open it to get in. It is tragic and horrible and I can't even imagine what the poor parents go through, much less the paramedics who see this month after month.
posted on June 21, 2001 03:18:12 AM
There is absolutely nothing sadder than the death of a child...
Here in my part of Fla we have laws requiring fences, but as others have stated, it is always possible for the little ones to get away from ya.
There is currently a PS spot running on TV about toddler swimming classes. If you have a child that does not know how to swim, get them swimming lessons now!
I have no kids, but when I had a pool and people with children came over my back door was locked (as well as the door to the screen enclosure), or we were sitting on the deck, with an adult posted at all times in view of the pool.
It only takes a moment for a little one to slip in. Babies can be taught to float at a very early age, I've seen it and it is amazing!
posted on June 21, 2001 04:53:55 AM
My pool is enclosed and locked, but the first thing we did was teach the grandkids to swim. They are not allowed in or near the pool without an adult present, but we still have a pool alarm, kids are very good at getting around restrictions. Every week I read about a child drowning while the parent or adult in charge is napping or otherwise occupied.
posted on June 21, 2001 08:25:43 AM
Although I agree wholeheartedly that fences should be required by law EVERYWHERE, I also agree with sjl that someone should have been in charge of paying more attention to the kids around that pool!
Geez, you'd think with all the money that I must assume was available at that particular party, it would seem that they'd have hired someone for the express purpose of keeping an eye on each and every child in attendance.
______________________________
posted on June 21, 2001 08:37:55 AM
The only way to keep an eye on each and every child every single minute would be to have a caretaker for each and every child--and for each of those caretakers to keep their eyes trained on each and every child and never turn them away for a single second. I imagine that this was a *large* birthday party and doubt that that scenario would be feasible.
Even in small homes & with small parties an incident like this can happen. Just last week we had a news report in my area about a toddler drowning in a pool during a party.
People tend to overlook the fact that a toddler can drawn in *seconds* in no more than a couple of inches of water, much less a pool. And the parent says "I only looked away for a minute" or "I just went to answer the door..." or "It's just a little bucket, I didn't think..."
According to recent news reports, (furnished by Tommy, et al) the "nanny" asigned to look afterr this child LEFT to go to a "Rock Concert"...the child was left in the care of a person from a "child-care center" that Tommy took his own child to...she claims otherwise of course.....It is a sad occurence, no matter WHO was supposed to be "watching" the kids.
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
), even if it's a pain to us adults to open it to get in. It is tragic and horrible and I can't even imagine what the poor parents go through, much less the paramedics who see this month after month.
Hippy wannabe 
~^~