while at an FCA camp
Two boys drown in Pella pool | GazetteOnline.com
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while at an FCA camp
Two boys drown in Pella pool | GazetteOnline.com
Horrible news. Time to pray for everyone around them.
Tragic. How does that happen with 10 lifeguards and 20 other counselors watching these kids.
A lot of them are probably just kids as well, high school or college kids.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2020cy
strange and sad
Is the lifeguard bashing really necessary? and does the bolded part make sense?Quote:
It is a horrible and unimaginable tragedy that these young men would drown in a Pella city-owned facility that had at least 10 lifeguards and 20 FCA Huddle leaders, almost all of whom are college athletes, who were observing and probably about 200 other young people in attendance.
Perhaps I can help show how something like this could happen more-easily than one might think. Note that this does not absolve anyone of responsibility, but hopefully it will help show how the simple presence of lifeguards (or any supervision, really) is not a guarantee of safety.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2020cy
The FCA statement in the linked article claims that approximately 200 people were there (and I would assume likely in the pool as well). I have never seen the Pella pool, but I can easily imagine a crowd like that making things pretty crowded. Combine that with the late hour and it becomes a lot harder to effectively scan the pool (outdoor lights like what are found at pools can cast horrible shadows). As a lifeguard in high school there were several times my pool would be rented out at night for birthday parties and such. Having 100+ sugared-up kids was never fun for the lifeguards.
Plus, when I was a lifeguard in HS it was common to hear boys that age say, "Let's see who can hold their breath the longest!" That is not a phrase you want to hear since it means that you'll then have to determine are they holding their breath or if something happened (particularly since they then go into a "dead man's float" while holding their breath).
Regardless, this is a horrible event and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families.
Its very strange that two were involved...
sorry to bash the lifeguards but it's kind of sad how they aren't paying good enough attention to things like this. a friend at my school swam halfway across our pool to save a kid while the lifeguards did nothing. the kid ended up being ok but the situation is tragic
The Pella Aquatic center closes at 8. The bodies were discovered at 9:50. Unless they kept it open for this particular group, why were the bodies not spotted at closing?
1) They just weren't
2) The kids were not supposed to be there in the 1st place
This would make more sense, that they snuck in without supervision and they drowned.Quote:
Originally Posted by CycloneYoda
Then how about not allowing them to do it, and kick them out if they persist?Quote:
Originally Posted by iahawkhunter
Why would pools allow that game if it makes the lifeguards' job more difficult?
Lifeguards seem much more reticent to exert authority now than in the past.
Many times the a second drowning is a case of an inexperience person trying to save someone already drowning. The first drowning victim pulls the would be saver down with them. (Assuming they were alone and snuck back in to the pool)Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckd4735
The scenario is simple: 1 is drowning. 2nd tries to help. 1 brings down 2 with him. Curtains.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2020cy
I was snorkeling with my wife in Hawaii and she cramped up. Getting her to stay calm and not take me down with her was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Just about clocked her, just to gain control of the situation.
So yes, my wife owes me one.
According to the article, there was over 200 people around so it doesn't sound like they snuck into the pool