Lifeguard refuses to resuscitate 3-year-old (Saved by woman on scene)

Scotto Show - WRKO ^ | 8/7/06 | Scotto

[mollynme]

I don't think they insist that everyone carry mouthpieces around in their purses or pockets just in case!

No, but they recommend it. I keep one in my glove compartment. The blame will be on whoever forget to keep the lifeguards supplied.

[cyclotic]

Of course, this is Boston, where the tradition of watching people drown appears to be strong.

When I hear someone yell fire, I've got this little habit of running toward the fire. It sounds like the "lifeguards" were just there to work on their tan. A hearty Huzzah for the "untrained" bystanders who jumped in and saved the kid.

[BadAndy]

"3 year old get infections as easily as the grown ups. The age has sentimental impact, but saving the life of older person is as valuable. "

I'll bet he doesn't wear a mouthpiece when he makes out with his girlfriend.

[the invisib1e hand]

makes one almost pine for the days of lynch mobs.

[A. Pole]

And yes, he should be subject to review and disciplined or fired for not having the requisite equipment to do his job.

In many case these lifeguards are just high school kids who do not give a hoot about "reviews" or being "disciplined". Probably he will not show up at work in that place again.

[Leatherneck_MT]

"He was worried about infection from a 3 year old? So worried that he was willing to let him die? We are breeding a generation of cowards and apologists for cowards."

Amen

[A. Pole]

I'll bet he doesn't wear a mouthpiece when he makes out with his girlfriend.

No, and it is how he can get infected. And who knows maybe it was better for the child that it was that woman who did procedure :)

[Between the Lines]

Bystanders Save Boy, 3, From Pond Drowning

MILTON, Mass. -- One little boy woke up alive and well Monday after a near death experience at a local pond.

The 3-year-old was very lucky thanks to some quick-thinking heroes.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that the child was saved from drowning at Houghton Pond in Milton about 4 p.m. Sunday.


Anthony Graham was swimming with his daughter about 20 feet in the water when he noticed another child floating in the water near a group of other children.

"There were like five other kids surround that kid but I thought they were playing, to see who could stay underneath the water the longest," Graham said.

He waded over and then realized something was wrong.

"He was just hunched back and just sitting there for awhile and I'm like, 'Something is wrong,' and I grabbed him and he was lifeless and I brought him out," Graham said.

He carried the boy to the lifeguard stand but witnesses said on-duty lifeguards refused to give the boy CPR without a mouthpiece to protect themselves. That's when several beachgoers who were CPR-certified stepped forward.

"I didn't think, I just did. And thank God I did," Lanee Johnson said. She did chest compressions while Valerie Vaughn administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"I was shaking. I was so scared. I was so scared, because, you know, you never think you're going to have to save someone's life," Johnson said.

"It was just scary. I just wish someone would do it for my son if it was ever the case," Vaughn said.

The boy was doing well at Children's Hospital Monday morning.

Hougton's Pond is a state-run facility run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

[EBH]

While I agree with you to a point, most modern First Aid kits have the mouthpiece in them. So this begs the question if a trained lifeguard doesn't have the appropriate kits, what the heck is going on. Part of lifeguard training, at least when I had it, included basic first aid along with CPR etc. Kits were stationed all over the place and you carried one in the beach bag!

[A. Pole]

According to the link you posted, it appears several lifeguards refused to perform CPR, citing lack of mouthpieces.

Unreal.

Provide the mouthpieces.

[fortheDeclaration]

He was worried about infection from a 3 year old? So worried that he was willing to let him die? We are breeding a generation of cowards and apologists for cowards." Amen

Amen to your amen.

[catpuppy]

He was worried about infection from a 3 year old? So worried that he was willing to let him die? We are breeding a generation of cowards and apologists for cowards.

Exactly.

[NonValueAdded]

Hougton's Pond is a state-run facility run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

State agency strongly implies union lifeguard. IMHO there will be no consequences for the lifeguard, at least not after the union gets involved. I'd wager the job description says little if anything about saving lives.

Parents everywhere should take note of this situation as they trust their little ones to others. I doubt this is unique.

[The Brush]

If he was a lifeguard, why didn't he have a mounthpiece for exactly this type of emergency? Why didn't he demand one as a tool for his trade?
What type of lifeguard would stand by as a person was dying and refuse to try to save someone's life?

[ishabibble]

This incident took place in Milton, MA. The "lifeguards" are so programmed to follow the party line that they almost let a 3 yr. old child die. The natural instinct is fast being overcome by the PC BS "guidelines" that are hammered into these kids. They saw a child who had drowned and they needed to follow the guidelines? I'll bet these lifeguards were high school kids and shame on them. I hope every lifeguard there who stood by and let two women/mothers save that boy goes to jail.

This is a prime example of the willful destruction of children in that sinkhole, Massachusetts.

[NautiNurse]

I'll wager the lifeguard didn't forget to bring his sunscreen, cell phone, and IPOD. A lifeguard's general duties include ensuring all of the rescue equipment are easily accessible, and in good working order. Gross negligence--and if this is a public facility, the taxpayers are on the hook.

Let's see what you would do on the operating table, when you learn the surgeon forgot to bring the suture material to sew up your gaping incision.

[spanalot]

"this is Boston, where the tradition of watching people drown appears to be strong"

HAAA

[Total Package]

Maybe the lifeguard had HIV and knew someone else was going to perform cpr.

HIV can not be transmitted by mouth.

[spanalot]

No Excuse - a piece of plastic wrap with a hole in it would have done it.

[cajungirl]

The mouthguard preceeded HIV.

The concern if about drug resistant TB, drug resistant bacteria.

The kid survived. His Mother was on the scene, seems she bears as much responsibility as the guard. I hear from lifeguards stories of parents who don't watch kids at pools expecting the lifeguard to do their babysitting.