You Can Never Be Too Safe When There’s Water
May 13, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
On January 23rd, 5-year-old Anyah Raven Glossinger—who was legally blind and autistic—drowned in a mineral pool while undergoing hydrotherapy, today’s CBS2 (Palm Springs) reports. Glossinger had been participating in the United Cerebral Palsy’s Little Bridges after-school program; two of the coaches supervising her, Elva Lerma and Sixto Mitre, are now on paid leave.
It’s hardly the first time I’ve read about an autistic child drowning. Remember Tyji Chester—and Jabriel Eason—-and Hayley Williams—-and Jaden Fournier—many others. With summer coming and more pools open—-and other bodies of water, like the pond near our condo—-when there’s water, you can never be too safe.
Very sad. What exactly is hydrotherapy? I got an email about this earlier today. I am taking my son Nick for swimming lessons later this month.
FYI – I had forwarded a few emails to you on the 8th and got them back today saying undeliverable. I used the link that is on the right near your name.
Hmm… is hydrotherapy similar to witch testing? Sounds kind of similar, in this context.
Ok, onto a more serious note; after something like this, you always have to ask how things like this happen. Of course, there’s no easy answer, no easy person or thing to blame. But there’s always the instinct, given how unfortunate such events are.
Best of wishes to her family, to be sure.
Cliff
Sorry about the returned emails, Bonnie. I will talk to admin about that.
This address should work:
kchew AT spc DOT edu
The original story of Jan 24
http://www.cbstv2.com/Global/story.asp?s=7771377
We have a hydrotherapy pool a couple of blocks away–at least for our local, the water is very warm and intended for therapy activities related to injuries and increasing movement and joint flexibility where removing gravity effects would be useful. It is also used for young children who might have a strong reaction to the colder water, such as at our Y. One difference is that these little guys are required to wear approved floatation gear in the pool unless immediately supervised, and that means one-hand-on in the pool, even with the gear the children are expected to be under 1:1 supervision.
I think among the issues involved is that Anyah was not wearing floatation gear, even though she could not swim, that she was not removed from the pool when one of the supervisors left the pool area, and whether these folks were trained in water safety or state certified to be performing the job in the program; my opinion is that migh be important when working with someone who is multiply differenced.
Drowning can happen in a moment and in a very small amount of water.The estimate is that she was underwater for at least a minute when discovered. Accidents happen. I think what is still trying to be ascertained is whether this was unavoidable or whether there was culpable negligence.
Kristina, a little girl who goes to school with my son just drowned last evening. She was a “bolter” and was at a party. They found her in a nearby swimming pool and couldn’t revive her. I’m assuming there was no fence around this pool.
I don’t even know how to explain this to him. We are all devastated.