The video is all the more shocking for its surveillance camera fuzziness and the calm of the woman’s voice narrating it. Over about 14 minutes of this video you watch the tragic drowning death of a 4-year-old boy. And you realize why it’s so important, so imperative, to properly train lifeguards.
The video I’m referring to, is the one used in the now infamous Yoni Gottesman drowning lawsuit that resulted in a $16.3 million judgment against the facility where it happened. The drowning was so upsetting and the negligence so unbelievable that the jury took the unusual step of finding staff liable.
If you haven’t seen the video, I urge you to do so now. Then I urge you to make your lifeguard staff watch it. Watch as the camp counselor dunks Yoni about a dozen times. Watch as the counselor then abandons the child to play with others. Watch as Yoni struggles to reach the counselor, but fails. Watch as one lifeguard takes a break, adjusts his umbrella while Yoni drowns. Watch as this same lifeguard remains oblivious to the boy for more than 8 minutes, until a supervisor points out something floating. Then watch as the guard carries Yoni's lifeless body out of the pool.
There is much shame in this video for all of aquatics. But there is also much opportunity to make sure this kind of negligence never happens again.
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4 comments:
Lifeguard training is Excellent, however it does not teach you to scan. Knowing what an active or passive patrons looks like is one thing but knowing how to stay alert and continue to SCAN the water is another.
I would like to see interview with the lifeguard and how he felt, and feels now and the long term effect of this occuring to him during his summer job.
What the "kids" Lifeguards do not seem to realize is that when a child or anyone drowns that effects you for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Lifeguard training does teach you to scan, and it does teach you what an active and passive guest looks like and it does teach you how to stay alert and continually scan the water.
Lifeguards have to perform these skills daily and the supervision of these lifeguards on a daily basis is essential.
Very, very sad on many fronts. Hopefully this can be used to prevent other similar incidents from happening. My thoughts are with all victims in this incident, and there are many.
Gary - I have posted this video on You Tube linked to the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in the UK. I think it serves as a powerful lesson.
Hope that's OK with you - if not please email me on i.wakefield@isrm.co.uk
Who where the lifeguards trained by?
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