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Florida: 5 Good Samaritans Dive Into Pond, Rescue Children In Sinking Minivan (incl video)
Local 6 (Florida) ^
| October 17, 2007
Posted on 10/18/2007 1:58:42 AM PDT by Stoat
5 Good Samaritans Dive Into Pond, Rescue Children In Sinking Minivan
Children In Submerged Vehicle For At Least 7 Minutes
POSTED: 3:08 pm EDT October 17, 2007
UPDATED: 12:32 am EDT October 18, 2007
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Five good Samaritans jumped into a retention pond near Walt Disney World and saved two children trapped in a sinking minivan. Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a spare tire on a minivan carrying five people apparently blew out as the vehicle traveled westbound on U.S. Highway 192 Wednesday afternoon. The out-of-control minivan then plunged into the water.
Ermarie Otereo, 24, and two passengers, Sulane Suero, 21, of Orlando, and Ivan Rivera, 6, of Kissimmee, were able to escape the submerged minivan, but Niomy Rivera, 3, of Kissimmee and Derek Rivera, of Kissimmee, were trapped underwater for at least seven minutes. The good Samaritans noticed the sinking van and jumped in to rescue the children.
"For the quick reaction that these good Samaritans had, they saved these kids' lives," Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said. "It is anyone's worst nightmare. We know what can happen if kids are underwater." "I screamed for a knife ... and I went in and cut up the seat belts on the car seat to get the baby out," rescuer Elliott Ramos said. All of the occupants were taken to Florida Hospital Celebration Health. The 1-year-old and 3-year-old remain in critical condition at Florida Hospital South. Troopers said car seats helped save the children. "They could have been thrown underneath the floorboard or in the front seat and then time would have been wasted for those rescuers trying to find them."
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TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: disneyworld; florida; goodnews; goodsamaritans; rescue
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A video report is available at the Local 6 site.
1
posted on
10/18/2007 1:58:46 AM PDT
by
Stoat
To: Stoat
Very good post but not “sexy” enough for the general public.........there’s no one to hate.
2
posted on
10/18/2007 2:05:49 AM PDT
by
kipita
(“Love” is to humanity as gravitons are to an infinite # of universes.)
To: Stoat
Ok, the water isn´t deep, it´s not that difficult. Good for those who helped, and those who were rescued, though. Credit, where credit is due!
To: kipita
Very good post but not sexy enough for the general public.........theres no one to hate.LMAO!
Thanks, I know what you mean :-)
I thought that readers might enjoy some 'good news' for a change. :-)
I thought it was useful also in that it serves as a reminder of one of the less commonly cited reasons for always using an appropriate child seat. People mainly associate them with keeping kids from flying around in the interior of the vehicle in the case of a collision, but as this article demonstrates they also keep kids from getting wedged under the seats in other circumstances as well
It also serves as a reminder for folks to think about always keeping some simple tools at hand....you never know when you might have an opportunity to help someone in need.
seat belt cutter, Tools, Parts Accessories items on eBay.com
Seatbelt Cutters - Window Punches - Rescue Tools Galls
Some you can even keep on your key ring
Res-Q-Me - FE388 Galls
4
posted on
10/18/2007 2:19:11 AM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: trussell; Joe Brower
Heroic Floridians Ping :-)
5
posted on
10/18/2007 2:39:01 AM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: Stoat
"I screamed for a knife ... and I went in and cut up the seat belts on the car seat to get the baby out," rescuer Elliott Ramos said. That's why I ALWAYS...I mean ALWAYS...carry a Victorinox "Fireman" knife.
Jas a speical blade for cutting seatbelts, nylon etcetera.
prisoner6
6
posted on
10/18/2007 2:53:26 AM PDT
by
prisoner6
(Right Wing Nuts hold the country together as the loose screws of the Left fall out.)
To: Stoat
"I screamed for a knife ... and I went in and cut up the seat belts on the car seat to get the baby out," rescuer Elliott Ramos said. That's why I ALWAYS...I mean ALWAYS...carry a Victorinox "Fireman" knife.
Jas a speical blade for cutting seatbelts, nylon etcetera.
prisoner6
7
posted on
10/18/2007 2:53:29 AM PDT
by
prisoner6
(Right Wing Nuts hold the country together as the loose screws of the Left fall out.)
To: Stoat
I just watched the video and it said the 3 year old didn’t make it.
8
posted on
10/18/2007 2:58:57 AM PDT
by
ShadowDancer
("To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.")
To: ShadowDancer
Oh for pete’s sake, they retracted it. Nevermind.
9
posted on
10/18/2007 2:59:29 AM PDT
by
ShadowDancer
("To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.")
To: Stoat
The officer commented that the driver was going “a little too fast.” I think a big part of the problem, too, is that she was driving on the spare, which looks to be a donut. I see a lot of people driving highway speeds on those donuts; I don’t know if they realize (or care) that these spares are only intended to get you to the shop. I am surprised there aren’t more accidents as a result. I hope those kids are okay....
To: prisoner6
The problem with those, and every other Victorinox-type design is that the blade can and will collapse back into the handle with only a little upward pressure on the blade. This usually means a cut hand at best, and a partially amputated finger at worst. And then your hand is slick with blood when you may need a good grip to get out of the car....
The other problem is that a Swiss Army Knife type always requires two hands to open, something you may not have in a crash, as well as manual dexterity (which goes out the window with your adrenaline rush/stress).
I prefer the one-hand-operation and lock-back design of the Gerber EZ Out knives, which are about $20-30 and are actually made in the USA! I carry the EZ Out Skeleton: http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=6751
The serrated edge *will* cut through a seatbelt in just a couple of strokes. Been there, done that. One is in each of my vehicles and clipped in my front right pocket.
If you prefer one with a blunt tip, specifically for cutting seatbelts, try this: http://www.gerbergear.com/product.php?model=6971
11
posted on
10/18/2007 3:43:45 AM PDT
by
Spktyr
(Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
To: Spktyr
Yuppers to the fold back...at least on the secondary blades and tools. The main blade does lock though.
Theother problem I have with most knives today is that they're stainless steel. I'd rather have a softer blade that I can sharpen. these stainless jobs are a real pain. I generally use 'em for a year and toss 'em.
Case Knives are also a good bet and they're made sorta near me in PA. In fact I'm hoping to make a trip there to tour the factory in a month or so.
I'll check out the Gerber...one had opening is always a plus.
Thanks for the tip.
prisoner6
12
posted on
10/18/2007 4:05:49 AM PDT
by
prisoner6
(Right Wing Nuts hold the country together as the loose screws of the Left fall out.)
To: Nightshift
13
posted on
10/18/2007 4:09:54 AM PDT
by
tutstar
(Baptist Ping list - freepmail me to get on or off.)
To: Stoat
Thanks for that - I’ve seen these but never bought them. I’ll start my holiday shopping early.
Good quick thinking on the part of the rescuers, I’m sure the family is thankful for their help. It’s nice to see good news.
14
posted on
10/18/2007 4:51:19 AM PDT
by
SueRae
To: prisoner6
I’ve got a spring loaded Gerber. It’s amazingly easy and quick to open.
15
posted on
10/18/2007 5:20:31 AM PDT
by
cyclotic
(Support Scouting-Raising boys to be men, and politically incorrect at the same time.)
To: kipita
.........theres no one to hate.How 'bout those darned 'gators who would'a ate the kids if they hadn't been rescued?
;^)
16
posted on
10/18/2007 5:35:04 AM PDT
by
JimRed
("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?" TERM LIMITS, NOW!)
To: prisoner6
That's why I ALWAYS...I mean ALWAYS...carry a Victorinox "Fireman" knife.That could get you arrested in about 17 blue states...< /sarc >
17
posted on
10/18/2007 5:38:23 AM PDT
by
JimRed
("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?" TERM LIMITS, NOW!)
To: prisoner6
If your car was sinking in water, isn’t there a possibility that you might mistakenly use that implement to open a bottle of wine instead of cutting your seatbelt?
To: SueRae
Thanks for that - Ive seen these but never bought them. Ill start my holiday shopping early.You're quite welcome :-)
Rescue tools are always a nice gift.
Some of the advantages of the dedicated seatbelt cutters (including the type with the integrated hammer) are that they are far safer to use than fumbling with a traditional knife in the dark, when you're hanging upside down while strapped in to your seat, and while your hands are perhaps injured or wet. The blade mounted at the end of the channel means you can cleanly slice through a seatbelt in one motion, and do it by feel. The bright fluorescent orange colors make it easier to find in the dark and in difficult circumstances, etc. etc.
Please be advised, however, that there is a LOT of poorly-made trash out there. I've generally had good luck with Galls' quality over the past 20+ years, and on the few occasions when I've had a problem they have been one of the very best companies I've dealt with in terms of processing returns.
19
posted on
10/18/2007 10:52:21 AM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
To: JimRed
20
posted on
10/18/2007 12:01:37 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Rice / Coulter 2008: Smart Ladies for a Strong America)
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