Jane2357 Posted January 4, 2015 #1 Share Posted January 4, 2015 A 4 yr old is in critical condition after a near downing yesterday on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. When are parents of young children going to realize that the ship is not a place to let your guard down - you MUST keep an eye on your children, of all ages. Sad just so sad that once again there is tragedy but I've seen parents on both Carnival and Celebrity act like once on board that they are on vacation - and let the kids just run loose. Of course don't know the circumstances to this case. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted January 4, 2015 #2 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I just saw that on the news this morning.....they had EMT's from Broward County on their way to the ship....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan1971 Posted January 4, 2015 #3 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Very sad indeed. I found this brief news clip video. http://m.local10.com/news/child-hospitalized-after-neardrowning-on-board-oasis-of-the-seas/30519644 Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus on the T-Mobile 4G LTE Network using Tapatalk Pro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane2357 Posted January 4, 2015 Author #4 Share Posted January 4, 2015 It is absolutely senseless. The ship and staff is not a babysitter - parents can't assume someone is watching. Who takes their eyes off of a 4 yr old? On a ship? With water? I just shake my head but I've seen it myself onboard too many times. Parents if you need a break - leave the kids at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizDemeanor Posted January 4, 2015 #5 Share Posted January 4, 2015 A lot of speculation. Many parents leave their kids home with them and those kids drown too at home pools of nearby pools or public pools. All of these scenarios are very sad situations for any affected family, extended family and friends. Pools are dangerous places and accidents do happen because of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted January 4, 2015 #6 Share Posted January 4, 2015 It is absolutely senseless. The ship and staff is not a babysitter - parents can't assume someone is watching. Who takes their eyes off of a 4 yr old? On a ship? With water? I just shake my head but I've seen it myself onboard too many times. Parents if you need a break - leave the kids at home. All too often, we see parents not keeping an eye on their children, thinking that others will be watching them. In this case, thank God for the bystander who happened to see the child in the wave pool and got him out so CPR could be administered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebr.cruiser Posted January 4, 2015 #7 Share Posted January 4, 2015 A four year old in the wave pool? I too have seen too many children apparently completely unsupervised around the pool, and running around the ship. At four, a parent should either be in the pool with the child or within arm's length, with eyes on the child. And don't depend on floats or other devices either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K L B Posted January 4, 2015 #8 Share Posted January 4, 2015 While I agree that lots of parents are irresponsible with regards to child care while on vacation AND at home, I'm not sure anyone here has the full story to be able to condemn the parents as negligent. Who even knows here if the parents were looking after the child at the time of the accident? They could have been with a grandparent or other adult at the time. One can't be judge and jury without knowing what actually happened. I'm sure the parents are devastated over the tragedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handy4u Posted January 4, 2015 #9 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I have a 5 year old son currently. We have cruised with him every year since he was 1. I've been at the pool with my boy and see other kids in the pool whilst their parent(s) are sunning themselves with their eyes closed or busy boozing it up. So the parents are physically "right there" but they are mentally far away. So threads like this are an important notice to parents to watch their kids! That little boy was underwater for at least 5 minutes and up to 10! If true, nobody was watching him! As a parent, I am ultimately responsible for the safty of my child. If the parents of that little boy have love in their heart I'm sure they are in total mental anguish and regret right now. I think about how they must feel now and try to put myself in their place. Putting myself mentally there makes me follow this thread so that I'll read it just before our next cruise. I want reminder to be diligent in the care of my most prized possession -- my own flesh and blood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted January 4, 2015 #10 Share Posted January 4, 2015 While I agree that lots of parents are irresponsible with regards to child care while on vacation AND at home, I'm not sure anyone here has the full story to be able to condemn the parents as negligent. Who even knows here if the parents were looking after the child at the time of the accident? They could have been with a grandparent or other adult at the time. One can't be judge and jury without knowing what actually happened. I'm sure the parents are devastated over the tragedy. Hi Karen, I agree with part of your statement. We don't know who was (if anyone) was watching the boy. And yes, the parents are probably devasted. But ultimately, wasn't it their responsibility? 4 years old?:(..in my opinion, that is waaayyy too young to even be near the water by themselves....:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob the Cruiser Posted January 4, 2015 #11 Share Posted January 4, 2015 All too often, we see parents not keeping an eye on their children, thinking that others will be watching them. In this case, thank God for the bystander who happened to see the child in the wave pool and got him out so CPR could be administered. I was a lifeguard during summers at college. You would be amazed how some parents expected me and the other guards to be baby-sitters. Many parents were incredibly attentive to their children while other parents seemed not to care. Granted, my job was to keep everyone safe, including the little darings but even with 3 lifeguards on duty it was impossible to keep an eye on everyone at once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted January 4, 2015 #12 Share Posted January 4, 2015 It is absolutely senseless. The ship and staff is not a babysitter - parents can't assume someone is watching. Who takes their eyes off of a 4 yr old? On a ship? With water? I just shake my head but I've seen it myself onboard too many times. Parents if you need a break - leave the kids at home. Agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruise47 Posted January 4, 2015 #13 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Can we all just stop for a moment and pray for this child speedy recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colombiangirl Posted January 4, 2015 #14 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Thoughts and prayers for the young child and his family. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Can'tstopcruising Posted January 4, 2015 #15 Share Posted January 4, 2015 I find it so sad and so scary. We have very young grandchildren and swimming pools are definitely a hazard. Sometimes a vigilant parent can be distracted. Every summer, I hear on the news about too many drownings. Many are in residential pools. I can't believe that all these parents are negligent. I hope this child has a full recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix_dream Posted January 4, 2015 #16 Share Posted January 4, 2015 No one really knows the child was underwater for 5 to 10 minutes. I know that is what they said, but think about it for a minute. If you knew a child was under the water for 10 minutes, wouldn't you have pulled him out?!? No one knows for sure. I suspect the truth may be he was in the water (i.e., playing) for 5 to 10 minutes. We really do not know what happened so we should be careful about judging. What all lifeguards should know (and I am surprised it wasn't part of the comment from one) is that drowning does not always look like drowning, especially in a child. In fact, I printed out a long list of information about what children look like when they are drowning and gave it to my son who has a backyard pool and a child. People have been known to be looking at a child in the water and not even realizing that child was drowning because their actions seemed like something else. Everyone should take time to review this information, particularly if they have children. I am not defending a parent if in fact they were not watching their child. There is NO excuse for that ever, period. I am just saying we do not know all the facts so let's use this as a reminder to pay attention and nothing more (beyond praying for the family if that is your belief). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebr.cruiser Posted January 4, 2015 #17 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Phoenix Dream has it right. Small children do not usually splash around and cry out and make a big fuss if they are drowning. They just quietly sink beneath the water--I've seen my own granddaughter, at about 3-4---start to do that. Luckily I was right there, otherwise she would have just been gone. I agree that we shouldn't rush to judgement, and the family is in my prayers. Accidents do happen, and it is almost impossible to never be distracted for a second or two--accidents happen to the most vigilant of parents. I speak as a former lifeguard, swim instructor, and grandmother of 7 who lives on a deep lake and has taught all 7 to swim. The things I have seen when I was lifeguarding!--re careless or clueless parents. I'm more scared now that the oldest are 14 and 15 than when they were little; teenagers (and they are awesome swimmers) think they are invincible and they are a daring and active bunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted January 4, 2015 #18 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Phoenix Dream has it right. Small children do not usually splash around and cry out and make a big fuss if they are drowning. They just quietly sink beneath the water--I've seen my own granddaughter, at about 3-4---start to do that. Luckily I was right there, otherwise she would have just been gone. I agree that we shouldn't rush to judgement, and the family is in my prayers. Accidents do happen, and it is almost impossible to never be distracted for a second or two--accidents happen to the most vigilant of parents. I speak as a former lifeguard, swim instructor, and grandmother of 7 who lives on a deep lake and has taught all 7 to swim. The things I have seen when I was lifeguarding!--re careless or clueless parents. I'm more scared now that the oldest are 14 and 15 than when they were little; teenagers (and they are awesome swimmers) think they are invincible and they are a daring and active bunch. I guess I look at it like this. If the child quietly or loudly sank beneath the water, if the parent had their eyes on the child they would know that there was something wrong, it would not take a bystander (like it did in this case) to rescue the child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CathyCruises Posted January 4, 2015 #19 Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) We had a tragedy in our own community. A well known family, the dad was a swim coach for many years. His twin granddaughters were in his hot tub during a family reunion, and one of them drowned. People everywhere, the girls were four so could stand up in the hot tub and have their heads above water. No one will ever know exactly what happened because no one was watching at that exact minute, thinking the girls were perfectly safe in the small hot tub. No way to tell what happened in this case, either. It is very easy to lose sight of a child in a crowded pool, we don't know how many other children they were trying to keep an eye on, etc. I consider myself to be hyper vigilant and there have been times when I zoned out just for a minute, no alcohol involved, and lost track of one of my kids--luckily without consequences. But let that parent among us who has never had a similar experience cast the first stone here. Edited January 4, 2015 by CathyCruises Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeaBag Posted January 4, 2015 #20 Share Posted January 4, 2015 So sad. No one goes on vacation even thinking about tragedy. I do hope this little boy recovers completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Chew Posted January 4, 2015 #21 Share Posted January 4, 2015 This was in a wave pool? If your child is going to be in a wave pool, there is no excuse for you to not be right there with him or her every second. When my children were 4, we had eyes on them every second in any type of pool. We did not read, take bathroom breaks, get so involved in conversations that we could not watch our kids ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizDemeanor Posted January 4, 2015 #22 Share Posted January 4, 2015 :mad::mad: So sad. No one goes on vacation even thinking about tragedy. I do hope this little boy recovers completely. Yes. Which is quite different a position than the heartless commenters who wish to be Judgementalizers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Cruise Raider Posted January 4, 2015 #23 Share Posted January 4, 2015 This tragedy will certainly have the cruise lines looking at their age policies for these types of activities. 4 years old without any direct supervision seems awfully young to be in a wave pool if you ask me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted January 4, 2015 #24 Share Posted January 4, 2015 This tragedy will certainly have the cruise lines looking at their age policies for these types of activities. 4 years old without any direct supervision seems awfully young to be in a wave pool if you ask me. Disney had a similar situation and almost immediately instituted life guards at the pools. Suspect that may be the next move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MizDemeanor Posted January 4, 2015 #25 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Disney had a similar situation and almost immediately instituted life guards at the pools. Suspect that may be the next move. A productive solution that has taken far to long IMHO for too many cruise lines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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