Tampa Hotel Pool Drowning That Could Have Been Avoided

This story is from a friend of mine who is a Mental Health Humor reporter at Mental Health Humor and Mental Health Humor 2. The first part of this story is the newspaper reporting of the tragedy and the second part is his personal account of what happen and why.

Although this story is sad and disturbing, moms, dad, grandparents and all kids need to read this and see how an accident can happen and what the consequences are. When I read the story and his accounts, I knew I had to air this and let everyone know that children must be watched around water. Children have to be watched around everything.

Chato said, "This was not a good week for me emotionally, but I was in the best place and with the best people in order to handle it. This is what news story said about what happened."

Tampa Bay Online
updated 12:15 a.m. ET, Thurs., Aug. 28, 2008

TAMPA - A 3-year-old girl died Wednesday afternoon after wandering away from her family and falling into a hotel swimming pool, Tampa police said.

The girl and her family were on vacation and staying at the Embassy Suites, 555 N. Westshore Blvd., authorities said. The family is from the Cayman Islands.

Family members, whose names were not released by police, were sitting near the pool when the child wandered away, police said. The toddler was found unresponsive. Authorities do not know how long she was in the water.

A bystander gave the girl CPR until Tampa Fire Rescue paramedics arrived about 5 p.m. The girl was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators have ruled the drowning an accident.

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Chato said, "This is what really happened:"

This story makes me sick! I was there on the 12th floor and some of their facts are wrong.

There should be outrage over this, I don't know why it was swept under the rug, was it race? Was it the fact that the mother or family was not watching her and they did not want to embarrass them? Was it hotel liability?

Here are some facts, the pool was not filled as high as it was the day before...I was in the pool with my kids the day before and all my girls have a life jacket on at all time near and in the water... That is just my rule... With 4 kids having fun it can be hard to keep your eyes on them all the time, even when you are right in front of them. But, the day the child died the pool, the water was 6" lower, that could have soften the child's blow when she hit her head if it had been higher... Yes, I said HIT HER HEAD not just fell... she was with two other children at the time and no one else. If someone was watching her it would have been from 50 to 100 feet away. I have an eyewitness to this fact and so did the police.

She stepped by the pool on the edge and slipped and hit here head then went under water.

What happened next will horrify you.

The other small children of unknown age, but could not be older the 5 to 8 years old tried to pick her up out of the water, then she slipped under and they did it again... almost a full minute passed before a hotel worker, not a lifeguard came to her aid.

Still NO parent or guardian, to be found anywhere. There was an FBI training that day and one of its members came over to the child's aid too... none knew how to perform CPR on this a child... Another bystander and member of my training, and a mother of a two year old, who was certified to perform CPR on a child ran over and started doing it right and the child vomited up only her stomach contents and not water.

Almost seven minutes have gone by now, and that is when I looked out the 12th floor window and seen the crowd... At first, I thought it was an adult, so I grabbed my digital and I started videotaping. In the video, you can see the other so called bystander compressing the child's chest like it was a grown adult. So that is why I assumed it was an old man. Then when I zoomed in, I could see the small feet and legs and a bloated belly... I learned some basics about CPR when we had our son and it is different for children. CPR is "essentially breathes for the victim by forcing air into the lungs," but my understand is if you don't do it right your just blowing air into the child's belly. Could that have been what I seen?

When the ambulance tech came, you can see him checking and leaning over the child, then almost ripping him away for the FBI guy and running to the waiting ambulance... At this point, I hate what I saw next. Since I had it on zoom, I saw her face as the tech carried her lifeless body away.

The child's death should never, never, never have happened! The hotel had no one watching the pool, no lifeguard or staff was there. The mother was nowhere to be found, and the family was scattered about, running, and playing with out supervision. There is blame to be had here... And YES I do put it on both the family and the hotel.

All this could have been prevented... if having a lifeguard on staff would be too costly then at least make sure all managers and front desk workers are certified for CPR. In addition, the pool should require all children 7 years old and younger to wear a CHILDREN'S LIFE JACKET... For goodness sake, the pools deepest end was only 4.5 feet!

Why doesn't the Hotel have a supply of 10 or 20 available life jackets for the guests? We are talking about spending only a few hundred dollars or the equivalent on one nights stay!

I just wish more could be done... this child lost her voice and her life for nothing but carelessness and her face will forever be in my memory!

Sorry to air this out here, I wish I could blog about but it does not fit my format.

I thank you for letting me talk it out here... I just need to put my feeling into words and I hope I did not cause you any undo grief or sadness, but if you are crying over the child, just know you are not alone.

Does this make you think?

What Makes A Parent

This is a question that has been asked many times and everyone seems to miss some of the important answers. What makes a parent?

A parent is a person that loves the child unconditionally. They love their child no matter what they do or how they live.

A parent is a person that teaches their child about life. They make sure that their child accepts others for who they are. They teach them about different things in life that matter. The parent teaches the child to talk, love and smile.

A parent is a person that shows the child how to cook, clean and do the wash. How else would they learn?

A parent shows a child how to be a pleasant adult. If your child see how your act, they tend to act the same way.

Children learn from their parents. The next time you see something that frustrates you, remember, you are teaching your child to feel the same way. Children learn by example. The parent has to be a good example because there are already enough bad influences.

A Robotic Vacuum To Clean The House

Cleaning is never any fun for anyone. Moms have so much to do already and then cleaning is added to the daily job duties. Men can clean as well. Many moms and dads are so tired after a long day, that they have no energy or time to clean. They prefer to spend free time with the family rather than clean.

Have you ever seen one of those robotic looking vacuum cleaners that you turn on and set it lose on your floors? Well, that would work great if you have indoor/outdoor carpeting or hardwood floors. Someone needs to make a robotic vacuum cleaner that the average middleclass mom or dad can afford. It needs to vacuum all floor types and be very efficient.

What do you moms and dads think? Would you like to see a vacuum cleaner that could vacuum all the floors and then shut down when it was done? We have dishwashers and microwaves to help us out, why not some cleaning tools that will make life easier.

Wedding Day Was Not Spoiled

I attended a wedding this weekend and it was quite unusual. The bride and groom got married and had a big party for family and friends, but they will not be legally married until a week or two down the road. It was a beautiful wedding with just a bridesmaid and a best man. Family from out of town and friends all gathered to watch the couple say, 'I do."

It was not your typical wedding because the man doing the wedding was just performing a commitment ceremony because the bride still has not received a copy of her divorce papers in the mail. She was divorced in 1996 and lost her divorce papers somewhere along the line. Since she needed to prove she was divorced and could legally marry, she needed the papers.

She spent two months prior to the wedding date trying to get the divorce papers from California. It might be easy to get married there, but don't try to get a copy of your divorce papers if you are in a hurry. I would suggest keeping your papers safe somewhere or plan to ask a year ahead of time to get a copy.

Anyway, the wedding went off without a hitch and only a few people knew what was happening. They did not want to cancel since the invitations were sent out and her family was traveling to see her get married. In a couple of weeks or whenever the papers arrive, they will just head down to the judge's office and have a quick exchange of vows and finally have the piece of paper that says they are legally husband and wife.

John McCain Has A Voice About Foreclosures And You

I found this video and thought I would share with those who have not seen it. With all the jobs being terminated and people working hard to keep their homes, I felt compelled by this video. It tells a personal story as John McCain shares his viewpoints about people that are losing there homes to foreclosure. I am sorry, but this man does not care about the people. I am one of these people that lost a job and do everything I can to keep my home. In McCain's opinion, I bought a house I could not afford.

Eleven years ago when I bought my house, I had the money for the mortgage and everything else I wanted. Today, thanks to my many talents, one being writing, I can pay my mortgage, but it was touch and go for a while. I am like everyone else and I found this video about John McCain spiteful and disrespectful to the average person. We all cannot be rich like McCain.

John McCain Has A Voice About Foreclosures And You

I found this video and thought I would share with those who have not seen it. With all the jobs being terminated and people working hard to keep their homes, I felt compelled by this video. It tells a personal story as John McCain shares his viewpoints about people that are losing there homes to foreclosure. I am sorry, but this man does not care about the people. I am one of these people that lost a job and do everything I can to keep my home. In McCain's opinion, I bought a house I could not afford.

Eleven years ago when I bought my house, I had the money for the mortgage and everything else I wanted. Today, thanks to my many talents, one being writing, I can pay my mortgage, but it was touch and go for a while. I am like everyone else and I found this video about John McCain spiteful and disrespectful to the average person. We all cannot be rich like McCain.

EBay Coach Contest Giveaway

EbayCoach is having a contest. She is going to award all these cool products to the winner. It is a cool contest. If you want to get in, go to her site and see what she has included in the contest winnings.

Here is what you get:

The winner will be announced Monday, August 25 - we have to do something to make Mondays fun!

Hurry and do your post so you can win the package on Monday.

The First Day Of School For Many Kids

School has started and many kids in the United States have had a full day of school already. There are many obstacles that kids go through on the first day. They have to adjust to a new classroom, a new teacher and in some cases, a new school. Many little kids are all giggles and excited to start school. Many teenagers are not anxious to start school at all.

The difference in age groups and how each one feels about starting school is somewhat funny. As you grow older, you tend to want less of school and more of your free time and friends. The opposite happens as the school year moves on. The older kids are enjoying their new friends and school activities while the little ones are tired of school and do not want to go to school. They would rather do something else like play with their friends or play a video game.

Many parents around the world yesterday rejoiced when the first day of school started. Many have to wait until September 2 for school to start. Whatever the date is, parents seem to sit down in a chair and breathe a little easier for the first time in months. No kids to watch after. No screaming or fighting kids running around the house.

Aren't schools wonderful? How did you spend your first day while the kids were in school?

From the Mouth of a Baby

I just wanted to let everyone know about a new blog on the block. It is call From the Mouth of a Baby. This promises to be a funny and interesting blog. It is done in the voice of a baby starting from the minute she was born. It has been live since Friday and has already grown in readership.

If you need a little something to give you a lift. Visit Alivia and see just what is going on with her these days. She met her dog and cat, and see what she thinks about them.

From the Mouth of a Baby promises to make you laugh and wonder just what your little one might be thinking.

Kindergarten And The First Day Of School

Kindergarten can be the hardest day in a mother's life. Her baby is going to be gone from her side. Kids have the same feelings when it comes to entering kindergarten. It is a new experience and they need guidance to accept the classroom and the teacher. Most kindergarten teachers are the sweetest people. They understand what the child will go through being away form the parent.

The only thing you can do for a new kindergarten child is take them to the school open house and tell them all about what they will be doing. Make it fun and exciting for them. Do not cry or become emotional when you take your child to school. This is felt by the child and can cause some emotional good-byes. Make sure you prepare your child for the first day.

Plan weeks ahead of time. Talk about the teacher and the classroom. Ask them if they have any questions. Tell them about your first day in kindergarten. If you have older children, take that child to the classroom first so the kindergarten child can see how it is done. They need encouragement to be their own person.

Patients are always needed on the first day of school. No crying or emotions are needed.

It Is Almost Time For School To Start

Yes, parents everywhere are anxiously awaiting the start of school. The summer, if we are to call it that has been slightly different from what we are used to. It has been a rainy season that has proven that Mother Nature can have devastating affects on lives. Although today is partly sunny, it has not been the best summer for kids. They have been cooped up in the house quite a bit.

Time for school to start. Parents are visiting stores and buying school supplies and that all favorite, school clothes. Shopping with kids for clothes is never as fun as it seems. This is especially true for little ones. They seem to hate trying on clothes and they really hate new clothes. They have their favorites and that is what they want to wear.

Teens are a different story. Mom and dad never know what the fashions are it seems. There are always conflicts and sometimes that conflict lasts until school starts. Mom and dad, you have to get with the style. Many of the styles out there for kids are the ones we were in the eighties. It would have been nice if we could have kept all our clothes for such occasions. It sure would save money.

Now that school is nearing, what are you going to do with some spare time? Are you going to take a few days off of work and just pamper yourself and breathe normally for the first time in months?

Kids are great, but sometimes you just can't wait for them to go back to school.

Another Tragic Water Death

Parents, no matter how good a swimmer your kids are is still a challenge for waves and winds on lakes and oceans. Yet, another child is missing and presumed dead in Lake Michigan. He was swimming with four friends when the waves caught him and swept him under water. He is presumed dead. The water conditions and the winds are making it impossible for rescue efforts, which has been call off twice now since Saturday. The lake is rough and more lives could have been jeopardized if the search were to continue.

Why was this 15 year old in the water under such horrific conditions? Because kids do not think it can happen to them. This is the third or fourth case this month where kids on inner tubes or swimming have had to be rescued. You might remember last month I wrote about a girl who was rescued and her condition at last post was still critical. No word since.

The lake and the oceans are unstable. They should be entered with caution. You have to feel for the parents, but you have to wonder why no one warns them. Keep your kids away from the lakes and oceans while the waters are angry.

As I speak these words, two more children are being pulled out into the lake by the tides. They are safe, someone got them out. Why are parents not putting a stop the kids going to the lake period when everyone has to know the lake is unstable for swimming?

Three minutes later, another swimmer in distress. She is out and safe. That is three in the last fifteen minutes. Where are the parents?

What do you think? Would you allow your kids in a lake that very possible has claimed one life yesterday and the same conditions exist today? Would you do that? I want to know. I am curious to what you would say or think.