The Redwoods Group

The Redwoods Group Insurance Program for YMCAs
Aquatics Alert 3-2002

Each year nearly 1500 children drown in the U.S., more than half in guarded pools. As many YMCA professionals know, abuse, sexual and otherwise, occurs nearly everywhere. As we all know, a drowning can occur nearly anywhere. Yet, the natural inclination is to believe that one will not happen in our own community, especially at our own YMCA. Awareness of the threat's reality is critical. Reinforcing proven prevention strategies is an essential element in protecting the kids in our programs. Both are the goals for our "Aquatic Alert" program. Each is a brief treatment of the topic, focussing on a real, recent, public event... reprinting the published article in its entirety (omitting names and identifying references to the YMCA) and providing a few important teaching points for you to share with your staff. As always, if you need additional guidance on this topic, please call us at (800) 463 8546.

The following articles were published the first week in February in a major Mid-Western newspaper:

"BOY, 5, PULLED FROM YMCA POOL, DIES"

"A 5-year-old boy died after being pulled from the swimming pool at the [medium-sized city] Family YMCA on Wednesday. Police Chief [name] said the boy was pronounced dead at [regional] Medical Center after 11 a.m.

"The boy, who was enrolled in a YMCA day care program, was found at the bottom of the pool just after 10 a.m., said [YMCA spokeswoman], the center's child care director. She estimated that the boy might have been under water about two minutes. His name was not immediately released.

"There were about 25 children, ages 3 to 6, and five adults in the pool area at the time. Two adult instructors were in the water while the lifeguard and two other adults were on the pool deck. Children helped lift the child out of the water. After the child was removed from the pool, the lifeguard began cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

"[YMCA spokesman], executive director of the YMCA center, said the child had had seizures before. In his eight years there, [director] said, there had been no similar incidents involving the pool. 'I have complete confidence that our staff reacted as fast as possible under the circumstances,' [director] said.

"[Police chief] said officials could not rule out a medical problem or condition as causing or contributing to the child being found at the bottom of the pool. The children had been in the pool area five minutes, [police chief] said. 'It was a terrible tragedy for his family, the other students and the YMCA staff,' [police chief] said.

"YMCA officials said the pool was closed for the remainder of the day."

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What this incident teaches us is:

Fact:The group had just entered the YMCA's pool, having only been there for five minutes.

"Stuff" happens during transitions in programming. What happened in this case may never be known, but the following guidelines generally apply.

Extra vigilance is required of guards and other staff members during transitions.

The pool should be cleared between programs so that the guard(s) and other staff do not have to divide their attention between the water and an active deck.

Children should not be allowed near the water until the instructors are ready.

Fact:The youngster had a history of seizures and there were 5 adults present.

Everyone on the pool deck should be watching children who are in or near the water, especially when the children are non-swimmers, even more so when children with special needs are present.

The guard should evaluate all areas within his/her area of responsibility every 10 seconds: above water, below water, and on the pool bottom. If the boy was under water "about 2 minutes" as reported, the scanning was inadequate...1100% over standard.

3-year-old to 6-year-old children need a better swimming instructor-to-student ratio than 2:25, even when most are "sitting quietly" on the edge of the pool.

Teachers (or other accompanying adults) should be required to actively watch the children when they are at the pool. They have not abdicated their responsibility to the lifeguard.

Children with special needs should receive constant supervision around water.

Fact: CPR had to be administered.

While there may have been other medical factors contributing to this tragedy, statistically, CPR, as opposed to assisted breathing, is rarely necessary unless the victim has been under water for over 2 minutes.

Fact:The YMCA's reported response and comments do little to convey care or concern for those affected. It was instead expressed by an outside observer.

Circumstances such as these are difficult and sentiments are often hard to communicate, but an expression of care and concern for the victim, his family, and others affected is critical. To speak of past history and rapid response (accurately or not) may appear to belittle the tragedy and may alienate the traumatized. Remember to show that the YMCA cares.

Please call us at 800-463-8546 to discuss this or any other risk management concern, or visit our web site at www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management related issues.

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Risk Management services are provided by The Redwoods Group to assist the insured in fulfilling its responsibilities for the control of potential loss-producing situations involving their YMCA operations. The information contained is not intended as legal advice; it simply represents trends in the YMCA industry, related industries and/or law. Laws and suggested standards are under constant review by courts, states and trade groups. They can be vastly different in each jurisdiction. For legal advice relating to any subject addressed, YMCAs are advised to seek the services of a local personal attorney. The information is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind and The Redwoods Group expressly disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to any information contained, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The Redwoods Group assumes no liability of any kind for information and data contained or for any course of action you may take in reliance thereon.

released 02/07/02