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Slow Lifeguards Cited In Great America Drowning

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Apr 11, 2008 11:45 pm US/Pacific

Slow Lifeguards Cited In Great America Drowning

 Download Cal-OSHA Report On Drowning Investigation (.pdf)

SANTA CLARA (CBS 5) ― Slow reaction by lifeguards may have hampered saving a 4-year old drowning victim at the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, a state investigation has concluded.

Cal-OSHA released its accident report Friday examining the death of Carlos Flores, who died last July in a wave pool at Great America.
 
The Santa Clara County coroner's office had previously ruled the death an accidental drowning. The child's mother also came under scrutiny for allegedly not supervising her son at the pool, but police declined to file charges and labeled the case "an unfortunate accident."

The Cal-OSHA probe determined that the boy was floating face down in the pool for 39 seconds before lifeguards noticed him. It then took lifeguards 14 more seconds to reach him in the water, an agency spokesman said.

Under accepted standards, the report said lifeguards are supposed to identify a swimmer in trouble within 10 seconds, and are expected to reach the person to render aid within 20 additional seconds.

The state agency ordered the amusement park to re-train all of its lifeguards to ensure they are aware of proper safety procedures. Cal-OSHA officials said such re-training is always ordered in cases of a fatality.

"The park cooperated fully throughout the state inspection, met all requirements and received approval to reopen the Great Barrier Reef wave pool," park spokesman Al Garcia said Friday.

The pool was allowed to reopen in August of last year after agreeing to a series of changes, including a rule that the smallest swimmers be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Great America said the wave pool would open for the 2008 season on May 24 with the rest of its Boomerang Bay water park.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.