A close call, that could have been far worse.

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[Dania]

This is another of the same fountain.  Not the same one, but same model.  Note that it is in a pool which does not go over 1ft.  The pool we were at is 4ft. deep.

You should definitely do what you can to get rid of that thing!

I don't even understand why they put it there in the first place; to be honest I thought you were talking about a different kind of "mushroom" fountain. Not only is that thing dangerous, it's a huge tacky eyesore!

[SunflowerP]

Not only is that thing dangerous, it's a huge tacky eyesore!

That's what I've been thinking too.  Not that its tastefulness, or lack thereof, matters compared to it being a safety hazard, but the tackiness adds insult to injury.

Mandi, I'm glad Boomer's okay.  Hugs to both of you, and kudos to you for going activist about this.

Sunflower

[Mandi]

Dear gods, Mandi.  My kids getting hurt like that is one of my greatest fears.  I'm glad that everything is going better now.  While I understand the focus on the mushroom I'm actually a little surprised you didn't hold the other boy responsible for his misbehavior.  To my mind correcting his behavior is as important as the mushroom issue.  Without him pushing Boomer into the pool none of this would have happened.

I commend you for focusing on this serious safety hazard.  In all the pools I've seen this device in it's always been a wading zone.  Nothing higher than a 9yr old's knees.  It really does need to be addressed.  If the neighborhood association won't listen then perhaps negative publicity will unstop their ears.

(((Mandi))

Best wishes for you and yours.

Thanks 

It's weird how paranoid it makes you in the after.  The kids were laying outside yesterday, and someone from a few houses over used a drill - which sounds amazingly like a kid screaming, and I dropped the garden hose, which was still going at full blast and went running down the sidewalk looking for the kids who had just turned the corner at then end of the block on their bikes.  (they're allowed to ride to the end of the sidewalk and back)

[Mandi]

You should definitely do what you can to get rid of that thing!

I don't even understand why they put it there in the first place; to be honest I thought you were talking about a different kind of "mushroom" fountain. Not only is that thing dangerous, it's a huge tacky eyesore!

WOOT!!!

It certainly is.  I drove by to stare at the thing and give it dirty looks after school yesterday. 

The baby moms in the neighborhood love it, it just screams 'gnome/little people country' and the mushroom effectively blocks off the kiddie pool from the rest of the pool.  Unfortunately as soon as you get past the mushroom splashpool section it progresses to 4 ft within about a 3foot radius. 

They don't think about what's on the other side of all the pretty falling water - and it is rather hypnotic where it splashes - although I was sort of thinking it looks like a giant ringworm, since the splash is in a somewhat imperfect circle.  As a mom though, you can't afford to be hypnotized by the pretty splashing water.  For even a second.

[WarHorse]

We went to the pool today.

{{{Mandi}}}

[Adele]

We went to the pool today.

You already know what I'm going to say.

I almost lost my 4yo to drowning.

Another kid pushed him into the pool without his life jacket, while we were getting ready to leave and because of a large fountain, which obstructs both sound and sight neither I nor 5 other moms heard A THING.  Not a yell, not a peep.  The child who pushed him (7ish) never thought twice, didn't say a word till after all was said and done.

I looked up to do the customary head count while getting things together to leave, and noticed he was no where in sight. 

HE WAS FLOATING AT THE OTHER END OF THE POOL.  Chest up, lips below the surface.  I sort of just want to scream that bad place scream.  I'm supposed to be up here on line looking for pleasant things to distract me from the mental image, but as if.  I'm an obsessor.  I've cried about it for a good hour or so, but it's not doing much for me. 

I dove over about 6 other people the second I caught sight of blue trunks.  Didn't think or bother, and thank the gods above and below that I didn't.  He wasn't breathing.  It was like all of those terrible commercials, and paramedic shows.  I can't get it out of my minds eye.

I got him out of the water, and with about ten seconds of coaxing was able to get him breathing again.  He came to screaming "help me, help me"  It took a few minutes for the screaming to wear off.

After throwing up a few times, being sacked out with a towel, and having enough food stuffed in him to feed a horse he seems alright.  I'm still hovering like a hawk, with hourly pulse checks, (it was just before 5pm central) keeping him awake (hey, who knows?) rubbing his hands and feet and keeping him warm.  He's starting to get his vigor back, but his color was bad for the first hour.

He asked me who "Christine" is.  I asked him where he met her and he told me "at the new house"  I asked him what Christine looks like and he couldn't tell me anything besides that she was little like he is.  I asked him what the new house looked like and all he could tell me was that he had never been there before.  We have never met a Christine in this world who is his age/ size.  I think she kept him alive until I got to him.

I almost lost my boy today. 

The second I got home, I wrote a letter to our neighborhood association regarding the obstacle to both sound and sight - a giant mushroom fountain, that gives off enough noise that you cannot have a conversation when five feet from it, and blocks your view of the entire pool from the seating area.  I WANT THAT THING GONE!

I will petition against the neighborhood if I have to.  I will go door to door with my kid and his story because the next person might not be so lucky. 

This is another of the same fountain.  Not the same one, but same model.  Note that it is in a pool which does not go over 1ft.  The pool we were at is 4ft. deep.

http://www.audifaz.com/52/hongo.jpg

My letter... (brushy creek is a local park with similar fountains)
-----------

To whom it may concern.

For the first time, my family - my two children ages 4 and 6 went to the Avery Ranch pool closest to Rutledge elementary school.

Through the first hand experience of nearly loosing my youngest son to drowning, I do not hesitate to inform you that the water mushroom at the pool is not only dangerous but has the potential to be deadly.

Another child pushed my four year old son into the deeper section of the pool, where because of the noise of the falling water, NO ONE, of out of 5 parents, heard my child's screams for help as he went under.  Only because I keep close watch on my children did I notice that my youngest son was missing.

By the time I got to him, he was not breathing.  We were able to get him out of the water and get the water out of his airways in the nick of time.  A few seconds more??

There is no justifiable reason to have such a high volume white noise in a pool that is meant for beginning swimmers.  It could have been a child of any age.  Should this mushroom remain in operation, we can anticipate many more such incidents.

Brushy creek makes use of these large water toys in an area where there is no water of depths over a child's' head.  This removes the risk.  The noise is not a risk, or an obstacle to effectively supervising children.

In the Avery Ranch pool, the mushroom is not only an auditory screen but a visual one, as well and has no business being in a 4 foot pool.  When the mushroom is in operation, the falling water acts as a screen from behind which the rest of the pool cannot be seen.

I beg you, either permanently shut off this death fountain, or remove it; before another mother goes through what I went through today - or far worse.

It would be terrible publicity for the entire neighborhood were Avery Ranch to become "that development where somebody's baby died"  especially with this pool being so close to the elementary school.

There are many mom's in Avery Ranch.  If this hazard is to remain, there should at the very least be warning notices visible in the pool area, stating that there is a known hazard, due to the sound and sight barrier created by the mushroom. 

(((Mandi)))  I'm glad Boomer's O.K. 

[Mandi]

Should have known better than to wander into *mom's group* territory.  3/4 are on board at the Avery Ranch Mom's Group; but another 2-3 gals are fighting FOR the fountain - even telling me to "leave the association out of this" 

I've still got the scars from the online moms boards I used to hang around in back at Delphi.  :looks pointedly at squid tentacle lash scars:  Anyhoo, my response...

------------

Wow, by the gossip about this at Rutledge (the elementary school) you'd swear you just called
me a negligent parent. I've got the e-mail responses turned off for
this group. Fortunately I have a little thicker skin than all that.

Each to their own opinion in this regard. I will most certainly not
be leaving Alliance out of it. Any additional info from them I'll
keep those interested up to date with. I surely wouldn't rescind an
opinion or a complaint just because it was unpopular with a hand full
of people.

There are people around who feel that bike and motorcycle helmets are
an infringement on their status quo as well. 'Looking cool' isn't an
excuse for unsafe.

(my regular e-mail) is a more effective way to reach me if need
be. This group is the only thing I have left on the other e-mail
account, so it rarely gets checked.

Personally I find ANY distractions from watching you children -
whether it is a blaring stereo, a loud fountain or those tent like
things that people are throwing into the pool that look quite like a
childs swim trunks to be a hazard.

Goodness knows there are enough gals down there who have seven kids, a
thousand toys, half a meal and their image to worry about.

Fortunately I'm not one of them. :-D

It's easy to imply when you don't know someone that their experience
comes from inattentiveness, and as that I would probably recognize you
by face, but don't recognize your name from a newspaper wouldn't
expect you to either just by a few typed words and a profile picture.

Making generalizations about how someone watches their children is not
proactive.

On the other hand, I would also hope that in reply, it is considered
that since we'll all be seeing each other around, when on the
internet it's very easy to disrespect an individuals experience, when
in person ones words would be chosen a bit more carefully.

For those who DO see the danger, and who have heard my request, I
thank you. The support has vastly outnumbered those who disagree.

I shall leave you in peace to your yahoo'ing. Be vigilant gals. It
only takes a second - and in spite of our belief that we can be there
100% of the time, there will be times where your kid does wander
farther than your arm can reach.

Many thanks again,

Amanda

[Ana]

Should have known better than to wander into *mom's group* territory.  3/4 are on board at the Avery Ranch Mom's Group; but another 2-3 gals are fighting FOR the fountain - even telling me to "leave the association out of this" 

I've still got the scars from the online moms boards I used to hang around in back at Delphi.  :looks pointedly at squid tentacle lash scars:  Anyhoo, my response...

I'm about ready to quit my mom's group too due to all the "scars".  Kudos to you for continuing on this and doing your best to try to keep your and other children safe.  I'm sure if anyone else went through the same ordeal later on and this was the cause, but they failed to do anything about it, they'll look back on it and wish they'd listened.  Keep it up.  Something will have to change.

[Mandi]

I'm about ready to quit my mom's group too due to all the "scars".  Kudos to you for continuing on this and doing your best to try to keep your and other children safe.  I'm sure if anyone else went through the same ordeal later on and this was the cause, but they failed to do anything about it, they'll look back on it and wish they'd listened.  Keep it up.  Something will have to change.

Hubbs was talking about something caled the safety pyramid, a concept they talk about in code meetings.  For the most part, "near" misses do very little to change things, something like it takes five non-serious accidents, 3 serious ones, and a fatality to cause change in company policy.

Terrible isn't it?  I'm horrified.  I'm also bummed.

Why does it take something so serious for change to happen?

Imagine the lawsuits if nothing is done, and they have complaints from multiple moms on file.

I've gotten the customary "the situation is being reviewed" response, but it's far from satisfactory. 

[Elisabette]

Hubbs was talking about something caled the safety pyramid, a concept they talk about in code meetings.  For the most part, "near" misses do very little to change things, something like it takes five non-serious accidents, 3 serious ones, and a fatality to cause change in company policy.

Terrible isn't it?  I'm horrified.  I'm also bummed.

Why does it take something so serious for change to happen?

Imagine the lawsuits if nothing is done, and they have complaints from multiple moms on file.

I've gotten the customary "the situation is being reviewed" response, but it's far from satisfactory. 

That's absolutely ridiculous, but sounds like an accurate description of the way things are done.

BTW, I'm so glad boomer is okay. (((Mandi)))

Does the pool have an entrance fee?  If so, 3/4 of the moms in the neighbourhood refusing to take their kids there might help move things along.

If the minority of moms are so attached to the stupid mushroom (which were designed for splash pools, not swimming pools) maybe they should fork out the money to pay a lifeguard.  The idea of unguarded public pools makes me nervous, anyway.

Betty 

[mandrina]

If the minority of moms are so attached to the stupid mushroom (which were designed for splash pools, not swimming pools) maybe they should fork out the money to pay a lifeguard.  The idea of unguarded public pools makes me nervous, anyway.

Betty 

I don't go to unlifeguarded pools, period.  I have four kids, and I know I can't watch them adequately enough for my comfort in an unlifeguarded pool. I can barely do it in a lifeguarded pool.  The mushroom would drive me nuts, we'd never go.  At all.

For example, last year, during swim lessons at the public highly lifeguarded pool, my then 5 year old got away from her teacher and into the 4 foot area (a four foot bounce horizontally for her). Nothing happened, 6 lifeguards, 2 teachers, and her 13 year old brother converged on the spot and I had to fill out paperwork, but her head barely got underwater.  What if there had been no life guard and I had been attempting to unravel her sister's googles like I had been doing at the time this happened? 

I second the nervousness.

[Aster Breo]

I've gotten the customary "the situation is being reviewed" response, but it's far from satisfactory. 

Mandi,

First, I'm sorry I'm coming in late on this.  Life has been busy.  But I understand how awful an experience it must have been for you.  I almost lost my older daughter at the beach, and it was so terrifying.  You have my best thoughts.  I'm so glad your son is OK, and my thanks also go out to Christine, whoever she is.

Second, I don't know what state you're located in (somewhere in the southwest, I think).  If you don't get satisfaction from the local bureaucracy, please consider contacting your state's child advocacy organization.  You can locate it through this link:

http://www.voices.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Store/Members/StateMap.htm

They can help you figure out how to advocate for the removal of such an obvious safety hazard, and might also be able to devote some resources to the issue as well.

~MI

[Mandi]

Mandi,

First, I'm sorry I'm coming in late on this.  Life has been busy.  But I understand how awful an experience it must have been for you.  I almost lost my older daughter at the beach, and it was so terrifying.  You have my best thoughts.  I'm so glad your son is OK, and my thanks also go out to Christine, whoever she is.

Second, I don't know what state you're located in (somewhere in the southwest, I think).  If you don't get satisfaction from the local bureaucracy, please consider contacting your state's child advocacy organization.  You can locate it through this link:

http://www.voices.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Store/Members/StateMap.htm

They can help you figure out how to advocate for the removal of such an obvious safety hazard, and might also be able to devote some resources to the issue as well.

~MI

Ahhhhhh!  Sounds like a plan. 

I've been getting scads of alternating support and hate mail from the local moms.  Going to the moms group was a BAD idea.  It put me into the radar zone enough that I'm having to put lots and lots of energy into not getting depressed.  Which has become pretty challenging.  You already feel like a steaming pile after something like this.  For it to have become so publically controversial means that you get to relive feeling like shit over and over again.

Having to look people in the eye as alternatingly, that gal who is really safety oriented and an advocate for kids and the gal who wasn't watching her kid, and he almost died because of it perspective dependent is tough.  In this case, it seems I have something to prove.

It's put me in a place where I am an example, a target, and have almost no choice about it.

I have to go to a stupid party at the same pool tomorrow because a friend invited us.  To not go, would be interpreted as refusing to meet the eyes of the women who I'm mailing back and forth with, and would allow them an opportunity to "clique" together.  Which usually results in people supporting the course that requires the least effort.  What is that gals problem anyways.  There's nothing wrong here.

On the other hand, to go; is to put my kids back in the same pool, and the same situation.  Although it gives a platform for publicity.  My prescence will remind people of the hazard.

I guess I'm just not sure if I'm happy about being so exposed in front of so many people. I'm not, but when one has little to no choice, to jump in with conviction is about all that's left to do.

I HAVE to go, otherwise it's chickening out.  If you hide, people assume you have something to hide, or that you are backing down.  I'm contemplating just not having the kids swim.  Make an appearance, and then head on for greener pastures.

[mandrina]

.

I HAVE to go, otherwise it's chickening out.  If you hide, people assume you have something to hide, or that you are backing down.  I'm contemplating just not having the kids swim.  Make an appearance, and then head on for greener pastures.

Good luck.  What has been the reaction of the mother of the kid that pushed yours in the first place? (my personal reactions, had it been Stanley, the most likely one of mine to do such pushing, and assuming that I was ok with the no lifeguard thing, is that he doesn't swim for a good portion of the rest of the season. He gets to sit next to me and watch the others swim, because he isn't safe with other kids.  Period)

I'm mean to my kids, I would have them not swim, make the appearance and go somewhere else fun. Rock and a hard place this one.  It'll probably take outside intervention or a drowning to get it removed, and that's the sad part.  But it won't be your kid that drowns.

[Ashtarot]

I guess I'm just not sure if I'm happy about being so exposed in front of so many people. I'm not, but when one has little to no choice, to jump in with conviction is about all that's left to do.

I HAVE to go, otherwise it's chickening out.  If you hide, people assume you have something to hide, or that you are backing down.  I'm contemplating just not having the kids swim.  Make an appearance, and then head on for greener pastures.

I feel for you.

I am sending all the strength and good vibes your way that I can.
Sounds like a good plan to me.

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