A very scary incident took place at the swimming pool this morning while JJ was at swimming lessons. JJ's group was in the small warm pool and Eric and I were upstairs in the viewing area that was filled with other parents watching.
With about 5 minutes left of the lesson, I see one of the life guard come running, and I mean a full on run, across the pool deck. I'm watching her as she runs up on the side of the small warm pool. At this point I'm waiting for her to dive off the side of the warm pool into the big pool. It was obvious from her run and demeanor that someone was in trouble. The lifeguard gets on the the side of the small pool, reaches over and grabs my daughter. She rescued my daugther. Not someone else's child. Mine.
Okay, deep breath, I'm trying not to cry as I write this. I could see JJ swimming around but I was way upstairs. Then I started watching the lifeguard when she was running. The lifeguard was running to save my child. My 3 1/2 year old child who was in a small pool with a lifeguard beside her. Unfortunately, he had his back to her. Shit, the more I type this the more I shake and the harder it is to type.
I've spoken to the teacher one time before because JJ was bouncing all over the pool and he wasn't telling her to listen. I told him not to be afraid to talk to her about it. His only answer was "She's a very good swimmer." Eric and I both go to swimming every week and I've told E before that it concerns me that the teacher has his back to the kids sometimes. I think the teacher pays less attention to her because she is a good swimmer.
Swimming was at 9 am and it's now 3 pm and I am still very emotional thinking about it or talking about it. In fact, I couldn't even tell anyone what happened until about 45 mins ago. I can't believe my child could have drowned with her father and I watching from upstairs and in a pool with a lifeguard. I will be addressing this with the pool but I can't do it today. I'm far to emotional for that.
10 comments:
OMG! I'm speechless. My heart is in my throat. I am soooo sorry that this happened to you. I guess this is a good reminder of how dangerous the water really can be & how quickly things happen. Thanks for letting me know. I will continue to be at the poolside every monday when Cole swims & pay much more attention. We've had this discussion before...I hope JJ wasn't too scared or turned off swimming now.
OK, I read this about an hour ago and couldn't comment at that time. OMG, I can't imagine the thoughts/feelings running through you when you realized what was going on. Thank God JJ is okay and that an "alert" lifeguard acted as quickly as she did. My kids have had some swimming lessons there in the past and I have had qualms about the supervision a few times. One of the first things a lifeguard (or anyone who has taken first aid) learns is that a person, regardless of age, can drown in two inches of water. The fact that this lifeguard had his back to any of the children in his class, for any length of time, is completely unacceptable, regardless of the children's swimming ability. I support you 100% - talk to the pool "authorities" and make your issues known and listened to. Your child is the most precious gift you could ever have.
I heard about this at Supper tonight. I am flabbergasted. i can imagine you are beside yourself one never dreams of even having to feel like eric and you do after seeing that place.
I'm glad you are going to voice yourself after calming down and processing. it can be better dealt with after you have had the time to digest the scenario; if at all possible.
my concern was also about jj now and her comfort level with the water. how was she afterwards?
I'm the one she told earlier in the day and I almost threw up, I couldn't breath my stomach did a few flops......as most of you know I can't swim and neither can hubby so when B was at swimming I was like a freak upstairs and was ready to bolt at any second......as most of you know my reaction would have been....well lets not go there but with my fear of water....you can only imagine if my daughter was fished out of the pool......heads would roll!
I'm certain Princess will get her point across and I'm sure there will be something done about it.....if not I'm sure she'll be calling me for back up.....
My husband was a head lifeguard for the city of Chatham and had to do the same thing before. He had to run 50 feet across the decking to save a child who was within arms reach of a lifeguard who was busy talking to his friend. THE NUMBER ONE RULE OF LIFEGUARDING IS TO WATCH THE POOL AT ALL TIMES!! This is what Paul says. He says that the problem is that there are too many irresponsible people who are lifeguards and that you can never rely on them alone. You always have to be watching as well...which you were so no worries. The problem with the indoor pool is that the parents have to watch from another floor. What could you have done to save her but bang on the windows like Dustin Hoffman in the "Graduate"? You'd have to run down many flights of stairs, thru the dressing room and out onto the pool deck to rescue your child who is drowning behind her instructor! Incompetence!!!! That lifeguard should be fired for turning his/her back on the pool. Kim is right: ANYONE can drown in 2 inches of water no matter how well they can swim.
I'm behind you all the way. You should definitely speak with the manager or something about this. Good for you.
I hope JJ is okay. I had a near drowning twice in my life at a young age and I am still very timid to go in the water. I can't swim really well because of it. I was always afraid of going underwater after that so I was never really at ease. I could never play chicken and stuff because I couldn't go under without plugging my nose first...not very spontaneous.
Not good Sarah! I had butterflies in my stomach reading this! Is JJ OK? Kids don't remember things like we do though. Things don't scare kids like they do us either which is scrary also. I have sent three messages to you before this since yesterday and none have gone through yet. Weird! I'm trying this one agian now. Don't wait too long to take a comment to the pool staff. I've been there, done that and they will ask why you waited so long if it bothered you that much? Will fiil you in another time. I'm just glad everyone is OK. Give JJ a hug!
JJ is fine. She continued on with her lesson no problem. I was telling my sister this afternoon that the lifeguard who ran to JJ even lost a shoe she was running so fast.
I also told her that if she ever has trouble swimming again that I want her to yell for help. She said she did. I'm not sure about that.
Oh Princess...I wish I had of hugged her today. What a horrible thing to have happen. It just shows, like the others have said, how fast things like this can happen, especially in the water. I'm so glad she's okay but I know you're not. I hope the pool follows up appropriately, not acceptable.
Oh my word Sarah, I was scared just reading your message...the picture of it happening was too vivid in my head...I'm glad to hear JJ was ok though. The water and kids scares the crap out of me and now even more so ...
R
I'm so glad that she's OK!! OMG! You must have been beside yourself! We had a water "scare" once in our pool...not a big deal at all - in fact it pales in comparison to this. S simply slipped in our pool and went under for less than a second. I reached under and picker her up...but hubby lunged in to rescue her at the same moment and grabbed her from me. Long story short - his reaction to the whole thing made her afraid of the water. It has taken almost a full 2 years of swimming lessons to make her ok in water again. I really hope that something is done about the lifeguard. It upsets me that there are people who take that responsibility so lightly that they put their back to the pool!!! I'm sure that you will get your point accross. As long as you are calm about it with JJ, I know she'll be fine:)
Hollee
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