10 Lifeguards On Duty When 4-Year-Old Drowned

ChannelOklahoma.com to My Yahoo! ^ | Thu Jul 31, 8:01 PM ET | Oklahoma KOCO

[Calpernia]

The city of Midwest City is investigating the death of a 4-year-old girl, who drowned in a metro pool with 10 lifeguards on duty at the time.

The city's parks department said 10 lifeguards were present at Reno Swim and Slide when the girl, Tayana Bowers, went under water.

Fifty-six people were swimming in the pool at the time - a lifeguard-to-swimmer staffing ratio that more than meets requirements under state law, Eyewitness News 5 reported.

In addition to the lifeguards, an adult was also at the pool with Bowers. But that adult was also watching three other children, which is in violation of the pool's policy that one adult be present for every two children.

The city said lifejackets are not mandatory at the pool, saying it is up to the parents to decide if their children should wear them.

Lifejackets can also create a false sense of security, they added, saying parents might not think they have to watch their children as closely if they are wearing a floatation device.

[Calpernia]

Sad. But somebodies head needs to go on a platter. There is no excuse for this......I life guarded for years during my youth in the summer. Ocean too; not a pool. 10 lifeguards? A pool? This ticks me off.

[af_vet_rr]

Yeah, hard to say who is at fault. Easy to blame the lifeguards, but in my opinion, the person who brought them there should not have tried to manage 4 kids at once. Tragedy all around, and a very horrific lesson for those involved.

When my daughters were young, once or twice I've pulled small kids out at birthday parties, etc. after watching them go under. It's amazing how fast it happens. My wife and I always made it a point that they were well supervised when swimming, until they were older because of that.

[Jeff Chandler]

Where was the child's parent or guardian?

[Jeff Chandler]

Where was the child's parent or guardian?

[Jeff Chandler]

Hickup!

[FlyVet]

Bad. 56 people in the pool, though. That might make it tough for a lifeguard to see it. And none of those 56 were screaming that there was a problem? Doesn't make any sense. I can't imagine this. Doesn't make any sense. I'm shaking my head. When I was a kid and if I had been swimming, I'd be diving under water, seeing how long I could hold my breath. I think I would have noticed someone laying on the bottom for too long. Where were these 56 people???

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Happens every summer....

also when the ice cracks

[thoughtomator]

It's just a tragedy. It does not necessarily mean that there is a systemic problem. The primary responsibility for the child is with the parent that is taking care of him or her.

[Calpernia]

Agreed. I'm just having trouble with 10 lifeguards + pool part.

If the parent had 4 kids...taking one to the bathroom or something....I would probably do that with 10 lifeguards there.

[Calpernia]

This is an unreal story. There were way too many people around for this to have happened.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

I can see this happening, especially if the pool was overcrowded at the small kid end. Too many people, too much splashing, obstructed views, distracted lifeguards.

[skeeter]

I lifeguarded for years as well, but at pools. A good lifeguard notes individual swimmer's water aptitude as soon as possible & marks potential problems for closer supervision.

Most of the job is pre-emptive. It has to be because victims seldom splash around and make noise while drowning as on TV. They just quietly slip beneath the surface.

[Calpernia]

I just have a hard time dealing with senseless deaths do to irresponsibility.