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Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

spotthedrowningchild.com

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Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#21

Post by xenocratus »

chrismeller wrote: post #13
rendall wrote: post #6

Something in the embed code prevents the "allow full screen" from working properly, so the video is tiny and scrunched up into the upper left hand corner. When I watched this on YouTube, with full screen enabled, I spotted the poor little fellow within about 5 seconds. This is using the latest chrome (v80.0.3987.132) This worked, though:

In Safari on mobile you have the opposite problem - it’s too large for the display and there’s no way to make it smaller (or full screen). I kind of assumed that was intentional, since the lifeguard can’t make it full screen or zoom in either. :)

... for them it is already full screen and way better resolution

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#22

Post by dsfyu404ed »

Insanity wrote: post #14

I could spot a few - but was faster than the lifeguard only once. (Well, before they came into view, considering the time it took before they came into view I was probably slower). It'd be a lot harder in real life, when you don't know if there's going to be a drowning kid.. being prepared is half the game.

It's easier in real life because nobody just jumps in the deep end and starts drowning. When you're doing nothing but watching the pool you notice who is and isn't a strong swimmer and focus your attention on the kids who look like they're a higher risk. Also when you do it all day you get good. Most people who are struggling will know it and make it to the side of the pool with no issues so you get a lot of experience identifying what "not drowning but might soon" looks like.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#25

Post by ElgamalDSA »

HenryBemis wrote: post #11

To all parents out there, it takes 10 seconds for a toddler to drown. Once in the water, if they go under, they tend to get disoriented and don't know where is up or down. When you are with your kids near a swimming pool or the sea, keep your eyes glued on them. My rule is "never break line of sight" (I borrowed the term from Assassin's Creed where if you break line of sights from the guards chasing you for a few sec…

Friends of friends recently had their 1.5 year old drown in the bathtub when her dad left her alone for a minute.

When you are at a pool / lake / sea with a kid that cannot swim, keep them in arms reach.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#26

Post by mcv »

panadan wrote: post #8
cafebabbe wrote: post #4

So many of them don't have arm bands? It's borderline criminal to allow untrained kids in a pool without wearing those.

Despite their popularity, swimming experts advise against using inflatable armbands. Although they can help a child to float, they can slip off and lead to drowning. Inflatable armbands do not prevent drowning, nor are they a life-saving device. Mistaking them for one can create a dangerous false sense of security. Additionally, inflatable armbands teach children to float in a vertical position, which is incorrect be…

They're a temporary measure; they make sure that a child that goes under, quickly comes up again. But a parent still needs to be nearby and paying attention. Never let a child without swimming diploma swim without nearby supervision. (This should be blindingly obvious.)

Of course once they start swimming lessons, they practice without armbands.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#27

Post by Hamuko »

chrismeller wrote: post #5

All in all after watching several of their videos I feel like I do a good job of recognizing the drowning person, but I’m amazed at how quickly the lifeguards spot it and dive into action. Even knowing that in this short clip there is absolutely someone drowning I still have doubt, but the lifeguard who doesn’t have that context is already half way to the person by the time I’m sure.

How long of a shift do lifeguards even have? Because I wouldn't feel confident in being able to observe a bunch of people in a pool for hours for what are quite subtle clues.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#28

Post by watwut »

undineine wrote: post #18
chrismeller wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve been to a public pool, and only ever in the US, but there was never any such requirement. I mean even if they did ask “can you swim?” that doesn’t really mean much, it’s not like there’s an official certification process... and either way, doesn’t mean they can’t still drown, so the lesson is relevant anyway.

European pools generally ask under children under 14 or so who go swimming unattended whether they have swimming diplomas. If you complete your swimming diplomas, you get stickers for your swim shorts to show you have completed them. Generally certain rides in water parks, like fast slides or streams will require you to have higher levels of swimming training to go on if you're under 14.

I live in Europe and never seen this.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#29

Post by mcv »

jasode wrote: post #9
cafebabbe wrote: post #4

So many of them don't have arm bands? It's borderline criminal to allow untrained kids in a pool without wearing those.

A lot of people don't recommend children wear any armbands/floaties/waterwings: https://www.google.com/search?q=children+armbands+pool+dange... In other words, if the small child supposedly needs armbands, they shouldn't be in the pool at all because the inflatables can easily slip off the arms.

They can be in the pool, but the parent needs to be in the pool with them. There's no substitute for direct adult supervision, or swimming lessons, of course.

Re: Spot the Drowning Child (2015)

#30

Post by mcv »

undineine wrote: post #18
chrismeller wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve been to a public pool, and only ever in the US, but there was never any such requirement. I mean even if they did ask “can you swim?” that doesn’t really mean much, it’s not like there’s an official certification process... and either way, doesn’t mean they can’t still drown, so the lesson is relevant anyway.

European pools generally ask under children under 14 or so who go swimming unattended whether they have swimming diplomas. If you complete your swimming diplomas, you get stickers for your swim shorts to show you have completed them. Generally certain rides in water parks, like fast slides or streams will require you to have higher levels of swimming training to go on if you're under 14.

The sticker or badge on your swimming trunks is something really archaic. I had one in the early 1980s, but I haven't seen them since.
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