5 year old Girl burned by Yellowstone thermal waters

Associated Press ^ | 07/31/03 | Associated Press

[bedolido]

Yellowstone National Park-- A five-year-old girl was burned after she fell into 160-degree water while playing with her brother near a geyser in Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone superintendent Suzanne Lewis says the Tucson, Arizona girl suffered minor burns to her legs and back when she fell from a boardwalk late yesterday afternoon.

Lewis says the water was less than two inches deep but extremely hot.

Her parents and an eyewitness administered first aid before the girl was treated and released from the Lake Clinic.

[Sacajaweau]

And her parents were doing what when this happened? They obviously weren't holding her hand. Geez!!

Five year olds don't comprehend what is dangerous. I would guess that hot water equates to bath water for a 5 year old.

[Bluegrass Federalist]

The trial lawyers have already filed suit against the excited atomic partiles responsible for the dangerous thermal condition, citing their failure to warn of the danger from heat, and the misleading advertising that has made some Americans helplessly addicted to the beauty of unrestrained displays of nature.

[joesnuffy]

poor kid...pray God heals her up quick and takes away her pain

[CholeraJoe]

I've been to this particular part of Yellowstone and there are signs everywhere warning of the hot water. A five year old can't read but her parents should have paid attention to them.

[cubreporter]

Yes for sure prayers the little girl recovers quickly. But let's also hope her parents don't try to sue the park. It was their child, their responsibility to watch her. We all make mistakes and take our eyes off our kids now and then and accidents happen buttht's just it...an accident...let's not sue the park for our own mistakes.

[breakem]

I think a few miles of chain link and barbed wire around Yellowstone will protect us from our stupidity.

[My2Cents]

Having just visited Yellowstone, and seen those hot springs and heard stories of people who fall in, or who dive in to save their dog who unwittingly jumped in, all I can say is this little girl is lucky to have come away with minor burns.

One of the more popular books available in the park's shops is "Death in Yellowstone," which contains numerous stories of people whose fate from falling into one of the park's hotsprings wasn't as kind as this girl's.

[.38sw]

My parents took us to Yellowstone when I was really young - maybe 4 or 5. I still remember my mom hanging onto me constantly, and also putting the fear in me about the hot water. She told me that people who fell in died, and died horribly! I was scared, all right. I stayed close to her, and made sure to stay on the boardwalks. This little girl is fortunate that she didn't fall into one of the deep pools.

[aristotleman]

*-HOLD MUH MILK ALERT-*

[bedolido]

And her parents were doing what when this happened? They obviously weren't holding her hand. Geez!!
Five year olds don't comprehend what is dangerous. I would guess that hot water equates to bath water for a 5 year old.

I've been to Yellowstone several times and found most dangerous areas are not fenced off. They want to keep it as natural as possible. The parents should have been holding her hand. However, I've also had 5 year-olds and it's very difficult to keep them safe.

[MineralMan]

"I've been to Yellowstone several times and found most dangerous areas are not fenced off. They want to keep it as natural as possible. The parents should have been holding her hand. However, I've also had 5 year-olds and it's very difficult to keep them safe."

Well, it's my opinion that if a parent can't keep hold of a 5-year-old in such dangerous circumstances, perhaps they shouldn't take the 5-year-old to see the hot pools. Just makes sense to me.

[FreedomCalls]

"But let's also hope her parents don't try to sue the park."

Oh, sue they will. I'll bet they sue because the park did not have railings on the boardwalk.

Liability For Death in Park Denied - The federal government contends it cannot be blamed for the injuries suffered by a Utah man who along with two companions were scalded when they mistakenly jumped into a thermal pool at Yellowstone National Park last summer. Lance Buchi filed suit June 12 in U.S. District court in Cheyenne, Wyo., alleging the park failed to warn of the dangers posed by thermal pools. The government’s response, filed this week by assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Roberts, claims the park was not to blame for the accident. Roberts said that any injuries incurred by the plaintiff were caused by his own negligent acts and omissions, including unlawfully walking in a thermal area off any boardwalk or trail. Buchi, severely burned over 90 percent of his body, said his medical expenses have exceeded $1 million and he has suffered permanent disfigurement. He must wear a pressurized suit to shield his fragile skin and will require additional surgeries. Last year, Buchi and friends Tyler Montague and Sara Hulphers, attempted to vault what they thought was a narrow stream, but plunged into Cavern Springs, about eight miles north of the old faithful geyser. Hulphers died. Montague and Buchi spent more than three months in the burn unit at the University of Utah health sciences center.

[Double Tap]

They may not be fenced off, but there are signs everywhere stating to stay on the path, or stay on the boardwalk. Warning signs about hot gysers and hot pools are everywhere.

This is one of two things: parental neglect, not watching or caring what the kids where doing. Or it was just a bad accident. Things do happen to the best of kids and parents. Let us hope that the parents don't try to take it out on the park, because that just hurts the public.

[bedolido]

Well, it's my opinion that if a parent can't keep hold of a 5-year-old in such dangerous circumstances, perhaps they shouldn't take the 5-year-old to see the hot pools. Just makes sense to me.

Hard to disagree with that. The whole Yellowstone area is a Caldera (Massive volcanic area) and is said to be with 10,000 years of blowing up. When it does, it'll take most of the northwest and midwest with it (parts of Canada too... but who cares about that?). So update your Palms and get ready.

[Steven W.]

it was an ACCIDENT. if you've been there you know that you don't want the pools fenced off and that it's just inevitable there will be these kinds of accidents on occasion. (get a grip people!)

[Double Tap]

I think your the one that needs to get a grip, and learn a little reading comprehension while your at it.

[Double Tap]

your = you're x 2

[Prodigal Son]

Kid seems to have gotten off lucky. There are many places and sites in the world that are dangerous. Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border for example. You can just walk right up the edge of that drop in many places- no fence and very slippery rock. I visited a geyser in Iceland (it erupted every few minutes) once while on a hiking trip, it would also have been very easy to fall into. People need to take care, but accidents are always going to happen.

[usadave]

it was an ACCIDENT. if you've been there you know that you don't want the pools fenced off and that it's just inevitable there will be these kinds of accidents on occasion. (get a grip people!)

Yes, we know that it was an ACCIDENT. This fact was very clear from the article. As far as asking all of us to get a grip, if the parents of the little girl who was burned had had a secure grip on their daughter's hand, this ACCIDENT would not have happened.