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Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

spotthedrowningchild.com

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Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#221

Post by tomjen3 »

Kluny wrote: post #168
AlphaGeekZulu wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do not know for sure. My believe is, that kids at that age sometimes simply do not know what they are able to do or not. They watch others, as they climb down the ladder and they just imitate them, somehow expecting the same outcome. This boy for sure was not able to swim, but he probably didn't know it. He perfectly copied the behaviour of other people entering the pool and then was maybe completely stunned that h…

I don't understand why he didn't float? In my experience you bob to the top because of the buoyancy of air in your lungs - not above the water, but you at least float to the surface. Am I wrong?

Muscle is much denser than fat, so if you are thin (or have a large amount of muscle mass) then you may not be floating.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#222

Post by themartorana »

hashmymustache wrote: post #120
irishcoffee wrote: post #30

I would like to point out that any flotation device in a pool besides a life jacket is just asking for problems. I life-guarded for almost 10 years, the only way I would ever let anything that supported a human floating __besides__ an approved life jacket was if the pool was almost empty (such that the one person got my undivided attention) and if I knew the child to already be a strong swimmer. I highly encourage ev…

The biggest danger seems to be parents who let their children swim before they know how.

Having guarded for several years at a popular club (and having had one of only two requires saves at the club in my tenure) I can tell you this isn't true. I will allow that their parents should pay closer attention (or attention at all).

Fatigue sets in quickly (and sometimes almost instantly). In my case it was a young girl who was a fine swimmer (on the swim team) and had been playing in the pool all day on a hot and crowded July day. She got a little far away from the wall in an area between 5-6 feet, very much like the video, and suddenly found herself struggling to break the surface of the water.

It happens fast, and can happen to kids you would never suspect would find themselves in trouble.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#223

Post by gamegoblin »

danfitch wrote: post #124

My wife and I have 4 children, she has insisted that they start lessons at a young age, and now my 9 and 7 year olds are excellent swimmers, with a 2 year old that can make it to the side if he falls in. It is absolutely terrifying to see these videos, but it helps knowing that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe.

This is the right thing to do.

My mom got me and my sister swimming at an extremely young age (I don't ever remember learning, as far back as my memory goes, I have always been able to swim). And then got us doing competitive swim team in the summers as early as possible (I think age 5).

I'm quite grateful for this, as not once in my life have I ever felt in danger in the water. Also, in a world of overconsumption (and abundant sugar), swimming is a great way to keep your kids in shape.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#224

Post by LTheobald »

carbeewo wrote: post #194
irishcoffee wrote: post #30

I would like to point out that any flotation device in a pool besides a life jacket is just asking for problems. I life-guarded for almost 10 years, the only way I would ever let anything that supported a human floating __besides__ an approved life jacket was if the pool was almost empty (such that the one person got my undivided attention) and if I knew the child to already be a strong swimmer. I highly encourage ev…

When I was a young child, my local pool allowed kids to play on large floating foam rafts (like this, but half the length: http://goo.gl/7Y4HbU ). One day I decided to show off my underwater swimming skills to a girl I fancied. After a long swim underwater, I exhausted my breath and came to resurface for air, only to get caught under a stacked pile of 5 of these rafts, with kids standing on top like in that photo! I…

Yeah, I remember the same thing happening to me as well when I was young. Luckily in my case I had enough air to use my hands to pull myself along the underside to the edge. But you instantly thought "That was far too close". I wonder if they still have those in schools with pools nowadays.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#225

Post by amalcon »

trhway wrote: post #198
janekm wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Costwise, I think that would be in the ball-park, if we can figure out what to monitor, and how, it could most likely be manufactured for I do work in this field (wireless vital signs monitoring) and unfortunately I don't know of any current technology that I would trust to monitor heart rate on a swimmer other than perhaps a chest strap (but not as a safety device either). For a point of reference, the Apple watch f…

just googled more :) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse_oximetry - an adapted for waterpool conditions earlobe oximeter is probably what is needed here (with probably a transmitter/amplifier with battery in the wristband). But currently it is in the $100+ territory.

That might be too expensive to hand out to everyone at the pool, but if it were workable for this application it would definitely be in range for something to sell directly to parents.

It wouldn't be able to interface with a device the lifeguard has in this case, but it could surely start making noise and/or flashing in an emergency.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#226

Post by scelerat »

irishcoffee wrote: post #30

I would like to point out that any flotation device in a pool besides a life jacket is just asking for problems. I life-guarded for almost 10 years, the only way I would ever let anything that supported a human floating __besides__ an approved life jacket was if the pool was almost empty (such that the one person got my undivided attention) and if I knew the child to already be a strong swimmer. I highly encourage ev…

At family pool parties I had a cousin who thought it was a fun game to try to trap me underneath a raft to prevent me from surfacing for air. He was 12, I was 8. Fun times. Learned how to hold my breath, that's for sure.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#227

Post by baby »

irishcoffee wrote: post #30

I would like to point out that any flotation device in a pool besides a life jacket is just asking for problems. I life-guarded for almost 10 years, the only way I would ever let anything that supported a human floating __besides__ an approved life jacket was if the pool was almost empty (such that the one person got my undivided attention) and if I knew the child to already be a strong swimmer. I highly encourage ev…

When I was a kid I was using these life belt, one day I flipped upside down, my feet were up in the air, my head bellow water. I couldn't flip again, I almost died if it wasn't for my dad who jumped in the water to rescue me after a while.

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#228

Post by tomjen3 »

rhaps0dy wrote: post #145
rhaps0dy wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still curious about this: "What does it look like when an able swimmer encounters trouble?" Do adults drown as often as children?

Thanks for the replies. What about able swimmers? I've played water polo for several years. When participating in an activity where it's mandatory to wear a life jacket, I do, but is there really a point?

Depends on the distance. As soon as you are out in a small boat there may be too far to the shore, especially if the water is really cold.

But at least keep the life jacket near you (ie on the boat), that way you can put it on if necessary - and never ever go out unless there is a suitable life jacket for every person on the boat.

Also never wear an inflated life jacket inside a ship (if it sinks and you become trapped you can't escape).

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#229

Post by rustynails »

hashmymustache wrote: post #120
irishcoffee wrote: post #30

I would like to point out that any flotation device in a pool besides a life jacket is just asking for problems. I life-guarded for almost 10 years, the only way I would ever let anything that supported a human floating __besides__ an approved life jacket was if the pool was almost empty (such that the one person got my undivided attention) and if I knew the child to already be a strong swimmer. I highly encourage ev…

The biggest danger seems to be parents who let their children swim before they know how.

Only if unsupervised. It's very easy to underestimate how quickly things can change.

On a slightly more positive note, this is a clip from BBCs Fantastic The Human Body. It talks about and shows the natural abilities of babies to swim at a very early age. If you're politically correct/sensitive, you may want to skip it. It does show genitals. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fbSCSHzXkrI

Re: Show HN: Spot the Drowning Child

#230

Post by bbcbasic »

Nadya wrote: post #16

The biggest eye-opener to me was the "Instinctive Drowning Response" article shared a few days ago. So few people notice someone drowning, even when only feet away. I feel it's a bit more obvious when you're further away. Is this in any way related or inspired by that post? /Start edit >Inspired by this hackernews thread: can you notice who's drowning in the pool before the lifeguard does? Answered my own question by…

I am quite annoyed that I didn't know the signs of drowning, having very young children and having watched water safety videos and taking my children swimming, but no advice on how to spot this. More preventative stuff.

I think it should be made a bigger deal of. Often holiday pools are not guarded and if everyone around knows the signs then someone can be saved.

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