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AIBU?

Supervising children near water?

27 replies

Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 13:33

I have commented about this on a different thread but I am so shocked to see the amount of parents really not interested in what their kids were doing at the waterpark we went to, here is the worst part that happened (I have copied and pasted from other thread)

I was supervising my 5 year old by the baby pool, when I heard a massive thud, I turned around to see a boy of about 3 clutching the back of his head, he was screaming in agony, I rushed to him (nobody else seemed bothered) and led him out the pool whilst I was waving to get the lifeguards attention. Then as we got out the little boy got sick all over the floor, we were looking around for his parents but no one seemed to know, the lifeguard at this stage looked like a rabbit caught in headlights and wasn't sure what to do. Then suddenly the mum appeared (which would have been a good five minutes since this had happened). I went and told her what had happened and the being sick after. She seemed more bothered about defending herself saying she was watching him he was playing on the slide I left them with the lifeguards. (I have just realised I didn't say that he had obviously slipped at the top of the slide and banged his head)

I really was unsure of what else I could have done, no one seemed at all bothered. I was also holding my one year old at the time, and supervising my 5 year old.

Seriously what is wrong with some people, it's just an accident waiting to happen.

So I suppose I am asking AIBU to expect people to know where their children are around water at all times?

Just unbelievable.

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LunaLoveg00d · 04/08/2016 13:43

I'm not sure how this is a water accident. Child slipped on slide and banged his head. Could have just as easily have happened in the park. Accidents happen - even if the parent had been standing right next to the slide the child could have easily slipped.

Would be more shocked by a 5 year old in the "baby" pool TBH.

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IthinkIamsinking · 04/08/2016 13:44

Some people are more interested in dicking around with their phones, sunbathing or chatting. YANBU. Ive seen some shocking lack of supervision at pools or on the beach.

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Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 13:45

Sorry, maybe I worded that wrong, it was a pool for the younger ones, not specifically a baby pool, poor choice of words.

The pool went straight into the water.

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IthinkIamsinking · 04/08/2016 13:48

Boy was in the pool Luna

Would be more shocked by a 5 year old in the "baby" pool TBH
Really? Confused

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Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 13:51

Exactly what I was thinking ithink

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NickiFury · 04/08/2016 13:53

Would be more shocked by a 5 year old in the "baby" pool TBH

You must "shock" very easily then and for quite the wrong reasons Hmm

Agree OP. I still supervise my 9 year old. She's not a particularly strong swimmer though confident and loves the water. The first time I let my older child go off alone he was 12 and I didn't really want to as was a huge water park in America. He was back quite rapidly though as he said it was no fun on his own bless him.

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BuzzzyBeee · 04/08/2016 14:09

I agree OP. When we were on holiday last month DP pulled a boy out the water literally by the neck of his shirt after he jumped in. He couldn't swim.

The parents were near by but didn't notice until the boy was already out of the pool.

When around water DD is never out of site unless with DP.

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LunaLoveg00d · 04/08/2016 14:09

I am thinking of the pool we generally use where the "baby" pool is for toddlers and has about a foot of water. Certainly not deep enough for swimming in. Great for splashing with a toddler, but not for older kids.

I have three kids of varying ages, impossible to physically have eyes on all of them all of the time. None are toddler stage though. Some kids are very confident around water and don't need constant supervision.

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Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 14:22

The part of the water at the bottom of the slide was waist height for my five year old, so was deep for them.

There is also a ratio policy at the waterpark, I was fine to supervise our two youngest whilst my DH supervised the two elder. Then we swapped for a bit.

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Pootles2010 · 04/08/2016 14:33

I would say they all need constant supervision - especially when on slides etc, so easy for them to smack their heads, loose consciousness, even in a few inches of water that could be fatal.

Sorry but i think one person cannot safely look after 3 children in a pool.

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Discobabe · 04/08/2016 14:48

Most pools don't allow more than two under eights in with one adult. So I'd say supervision is very necessary. A three year old always needs supervising near water regardless of confidence.

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AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 04/08/2016 15:18

Luna of you can't keep an eye on all three you shouldn't take them to a pool without another adult to supervise. Just because a child is confident doesn't mean they can't drown. My little brother almost drowned swimming out to see after me and my sister despite us being much older and stronger swimmers. Luckily my Dad spotted him and rescued him.

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AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 04/08/2016 15:19

*if

*sea

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Beeziekn33ze · 04/08/2016 15:25

OP Just one lifeguard? If one is dealing with an incident there should be at least one other to supervise other children and, if necessary, clear pool.

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Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 15:36

There was only one supervising the younger pool. That lifeguard had to try and get the attention of another, it was a couple of minutes before the other was with us, and still neither looked like they knew what to do.

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Ellybellyboo · 04/08/2016 15:39

YANBU

I live by the beach in a holiday area, and it always surprises me how relaxed parents are with children around water.

I was messing about with my DD at the waters edge last the weekend before last. While it was hot and sunny it was also quite windy so the sea was quite rough. We were splashing each other when I realised a little girl, about 2 was paddling alone. A biggish wave knocked the little girl off her feet and she struggled to stand back up. I helped her up, but neither of her parents were close by, they were sitting way up the beach.

It really scares me when I see youngish children unsupervised on inflatables, while parents are way up the beach reading the paper.

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Pootles2010 · 04/08/2016 16:07

Absolutely Elly - when I was 11 I was knocked off my feet by a freak wave - was literally paddling around up to my ankles, it rushed up the beach, picked me up and dropped me a few feet down the beach.

I get that it was a freak wave, but they do happen - it took lots of peoples belongings, including my beloved jelli shoes!

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Tiredmumno1 · 04/08/2016 16:08

I know, I was really surprised at the laid back attitude.

I really am surprised there are not a lot more water accidents, especially after what I saw, and that was just the day I was there. I am guessing it is probably a daily occurrence.

I just can't get that thud out of my head Sad I really hope that he was ok.

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MrPony · 04/08/2016 16:13

Yes your child could fall over in a playground but at least they would just fall and not drown!

I'm so paranoid around water. It can happen so quickly that it's just not worth the risk

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Anonymouses · 04/08/2016 16:21

We just took 3 to a water park. I supervised the youngest non swimmer and DH supervised the eldest 2 who can swim. The middle one wore a life jacket for safety as well as she's not a strong swimmer. I was amazed how many young kids seemed to be alone.

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KoalaDownUnder · 04/08/2016 16:22

At that age, they bloody do need constant supervision, Luna.

A 3-yeas-old at a water park should have an adult's eyes on him at all times.

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LunaLoveg00d · 04/08/2016 16:25

Luna of you can't keep an eye on all three you shouldn't take them to a pool without another adult to supervise

FFS my eldest is 13 and a half, the next one is almost 11. They don't need "supervised".

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Pootles2010 · 04/08/2016 16:53

Sorry Luna you just said varying ages, I didn't realise they were quite so old. But i would say you can't look after 3 under what - 8? Certainly all pools I've been to have not allowed this anyway.

I'd say its fairly obvious most of us are talking about younger children here.

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Butteredparsnips · 04/08/2016 17:01

Agree DC need to be supervised by water. No argument. I really hope the little one was OK. He needs to be checked out if he vomitted after a nasty bang to the head.

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junebirthdaygirl · 04/08/2016 17:05

My dh had to dive in and rescue a nine year old on holidays. Df and dp( not mother) were lying flat out on sunbeds not looking at all. They hadn't even checked where the deep end was. Only added the bit about the mother as kept thinking how they were going to tell his mom they let him drown. It has always surprised me how careless people are but l am a bit paranoid where water is concerned as would hate them to get a fright and get a fear of water forever.

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