6 year old and his Aunt drown in front of 15-20 people this weekend.

[underpants]

So tragic and yet not that uncommon. I post this to bring attention not to mock (I'm sorry if I need to point that out)

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - The Chesterfield Police Department have identified Sunday's drowning victims at Chesterfield Village Apartments as Cah’lik Brown, 6, and Christina Awosina, 23.

Chesterfield Police Department said. "At one point, Cah’lik let go of the pool wall and began to struggle in the water. Awosina let go of the pool wall in an attempt to help Cah’lik, and she began to struggle in the water, as well."

Both the aunt and nephew were organ donors. Their deaths are now helping others live.

"His body is going to be saving six babies, and in two of those babies, he will be giving them eyesight automatically. So I believe that he will be living on through them," said Jason Awosina.

“We thought everything was fine,” said one woman. “There was no splashing or anything.”

The woman added there were roughly 15 to 20 people in the pool area at the time and no signs of distress.

http://m.nbc12.com/story/38288271/boy-drowns-in-pool-at-chesterfield-village-apartments

I post this to bring attention to an article I happened upon a few weeks ago.


Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016206738

Drowning does not look like drowning. Dr. Pia, in an article he wrote for the Coast Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:

Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help.

Drowning people cannot wave for help.

More at the link.

[blondebanshee]

1. Thank you for posting!

[mythology]

2. I agree. This is good information to share.

[dembotoz]

3. Being a lifeguard can be harder than it looks

Years ago my kid was having some problems in the water.
Thought he was just splashing til he grabbed onto me and I could see he was terrified.

Changed entirely how I watch my kids in water

[phylny]

4. We live on a lake. Our rule, no exceptions, is that little kids and those who can't

swim wear puddle jumpers or another life jacket. No one goes in without adult supervision. No one goes onto the DOCK without adult supervision. Adults who aren't strong swimmers (my son-in-law) goes in with a noodle or other float.

Our water is clear, but the bottom isn't sandy, so there is limited visibility. There is at least one drowning a year - generally a child who isn't a strong swimmer or just plain can't swim.

I'm thinking about getting some old-fashioned ski belts, as a woman I know said everyone wears them to help with flotation.

[FakeNoose]

12. These rules are awesome and it sounds like they're strictly enforced

Unfortunately the smallest kids (toddlers) don't understand the rules and they're the ones that must be watched constantly. Swimming lessons for kids should be strongly suggested, but sometimes it's out of your control. All you can do it try to avoid a tragedy while they're on your property.

Have fun and stay safe!

[phylny]

22. You are exactly right!

We also have our security system set to beep when little ones are visiting, so that if a door opens, we all know it.

[magicarpet]

5. We learn through the experiences of others.

Thank you for sharing - to alert us to water safety as we come upon the summer swimming season.

Children should start with flotation devices as they acclimate to the water. They don't yet recognize how dangerous water can be. Adult supervision is a must to ward off any dangerous circumstances or drowning.

[mopinko]

6. my son almost drown in a hotel pool at my niece's wedding.

room full of people, pool full of kids, no lifeguard.

he couldnt swim but was paddling around holding onto a soccer ball. fortunately i was watching and saw him lose his grip.
people were so absorbed in the fun that when i jumped in, fully clothed and pulled him out, nobody even noticed that.

water is fun, but people dont really think about how dangerous it is sometimes.

[pnwmom]

21. Wow! Good for you! I'm so glad you were watching closely enough to see him in trouble

and he was lucky enough to have a parent who didn't hesitate!

[mopinko]

26. yeah, i was worried watching him but

he was a super shy and fearful kid, so i didnt stop him.
tried not to take my eyes off him.

but he did just go straight down w/o any splashing or anything.

[Arkansas Granny]

7. Thanks for this. I've forwarded the article to all family members and friends who will be spending

time at pools, lakes and creeks this summer.

[lark]

8. My experience wasn't like that.

I was 5, couldn't swim, and chasing my dad in the water at Myaka Springs in Sarasota. He was heading for the deep part and I wanted a ride. Unfortunately he didn't hear me and the ground dropped out from under me fast and I was over my head. I jumped up and got a gulp of air and screamed for help. The current had me and kept pulling me further out, the 2nd time I jumped I couldn't get my head above water and so just waved my hands frantically. My cousin heard me the first time I yelled and swam out to me and saved me just as I couldn't hold my breath any longer and was despairing. So, drowning people can wave and can yell.

[boston bean]

9. I nearly drowned in a pool unnoticed when I was about 6.

It was in the shallow end of the pool.

[Wounded Bear]

10. Most people's views are set by Hollywood...

Just sinking below the surface and drowning quietly is not dramatic. They always spice it up with the victim thrashing and screaming. Art embellishes life.

[FakeNoose]

11. Children should never be in the water unsupervised

Even if you think your child can swim, but especially when you know they can't. Small children may think it's fun to splash around in the water but they also panic and forget how to paddle or keep their head up etc. They need to always be in the shallow end where they can put their feet down and touch bottom. The parent or guardian must be close by and watchful at all times. Anything can go wrong, and it happens so fast.

I get it - it's mostly boring for an adult but it must be done for the safety of the child. Best way is to team up so one adult gets to swim, while the other watches the kid(s) in the shallow end. Never assume the lifeguard is watching your child when there are 20 other kids in the pool.

Have fun and stay safe!

[shanny]

13. As a former lifeguard

at a lake with a large (75 x 75m) deep water area (rafts in the center and corners) I can attest to this.

You don't watch for splashing or yelling or signs of distress, you watch expressions. It can be as clear as day, red light/green light gonna make it/not gonna make it. Then you go.

Usually, after you pull them in, they say they really didn't need any help...but thank you.

[Tall Poppy]

14. I was sitting 2 feet from the neighborhood pool edge talking

with a mom who was watching her son paddling and holding on to the edge. She looked away for 10 seconds to get something and I noticed the 5 yo child had dropped to the bottom and stayed there. Mom didn't notice, he made no sound. I yelled out and we jumped in to get him. On deck, he vomited a boat load of water. That quick.

[calimary]

17. Welcome to DU, Tall Poppy!

This is so good to know! I saw the article referenced in the OP, and was frankly amazed. I didn't realize that! Helps to know. Knowledge is life-saving.

[rurallib]

15. K for visibility

nearly 70 and had never heard this - thank you.

[blueinredohio]

16. We have a back yard pool and two grand daughters aged 8 and 11

who still can't swim and definitely know they can't go in the water without adult supervision. They can be without a life jacket if they stay waist level otherwise they better have that jacket on or you can sit out for the day.

[ChubbyStar]

18. No child who can't swim should be in any pool without a life vest

PERIOD.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. If you go help someone drowning or in burning building, shout out what you are doing so others know.

[ChubbyStar]

20. Water Safety 101, LET OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE RESCUING

It is a basic tenet of lifeguarding. Nobody goes into the water for a rescue until others are notified. It can be a split second bark before a rescue but it needs to be done.

[underpants]

25. I did not know that

Good to know. Thanks.

[wonkwest]

23. Crowded situations are almost worse

Diffusion of responsibility. People assume someone must be watching.

About five years ago, I was at a luau/pig roast my brother was having for my niece's birthday. About fifty people were milling around his yard. They had one of those big inflatable pools. Any of the smaller kids had to have water wings. Well, the two moms who were ostensibly supposed to be watching were kind of looking away while chatting and sipping drinks. As I sat on the deck sipping a beer, I watched a four year old girl tip from the deck head first into the pool. No one noticed. Not the moms, not the other kids in the pool - and this was a small pool. Only maybe 15 feet in diameter and about four feet of water. I jumped up and hurried over. The kid was still head down in the pool. I grabbed her ankles and pulled her out. She wailed.

It could've been that quick and that easy for disaster.

I told my brother about it immediately. It was the last time an inflatable pool was at one of the kids' parties.

There's a very scary channel called Life Guard Rescue on YouTube. They show situation after situation of kids in pools surrounded by people where no one around them is paying attention or realizing they're in distress.

[Raine1967]

24. I Was a lifeguard many years ago, to this day, I cannot go into a public pool and not keep an

eye out for others in the pool.

Reading this story makes me so very sad. One thing I was taught was that doing a direct rescue should be the very last resort because a drowning victim will inadvertently take you down with them in a panic.

Thank you for the links, underpants.