http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar...++lagoon+death
In today's Advertiser, "The family of a 56-year old Honolulu man today sued the Hilton Hawaiian Village, saying that his death was caused by injuries suffered when he got caught in the suction of the drain of the newly rebuilt Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki.” The man was swimming at the lagoon when he was trapped by the strong suction and flat underwater drain gate, less than five feet below the surface.
This brings to memory another lawsuit in Hawaii. Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park was sued as the result of an 18 year old man who drowned there in Sept 2000. The lawsuit said the swimmer was in the "catch pool" of the Big Kahuna feature at the water park when he was sucked into or pinned against the intake pipe of the water circulation system, resulting in his death by drowning.
Drownings and injuries from suction in pools are not uncommon. In a July 2008 online article, it was reported that since 1985 there have been more than 150 reported cases of swimming pool drain entrapments, leading to at least 48 deaths and many serious injuries, including disembowelment of children and adults.
Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related deaths to children 14 years old and younger, and in many incidents (involving both adults and children) the main culprit is the water circulation system in pools and hot tubs.
What can we learn from this recent incident? Professionals say that in most instances wherein a victim becomes stuck to an intake of a circulation system, rescuers fail to realize the need to immediately shut off the pump. Instead, in a panic, people tend to go to the victim and attempt prying them free.
We all need to keep that in mind - shut off the pump!
In today's Advertiser, "The family of a 56-year old Honolulu man today sued the Hilton Hawaiian Village, saying that his death was caused by injuries suffered when he got caught in the suction of the drain of the newly rebuilt Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon in Waikiki.” The man was swimming at the lagoon when he was trapped by the strong suction and flat underwater drain gate, less than five feet below the surface.
This brings to memory another lawsuit in Hawaii. Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park was sued as the result of an 18 year old man who drowned there in Sept 2000. The lawsuit said the swimmer was in the "catch pool" of the Big Kahuna feature at the water park when he was sucked into or pinned against the intake pipe of the water circulation system, resulting in his death by drowning.
Drownings and injuries from suction in pools are not uncommon. In a July 2008 online article, it was reported that since 1985 there have been more than 150 reported cases of swimming pool drain entrapments, leading to at least 48 deaths and many serious injuries, including disembowelment of children and adults.
Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related deaths to children 14 years old and younger, and in many incidents (involving both adults and children) the main culprit is the water circulation system in pools and hot tubs.
What can we learn from this recent incident? Professionals say that in most instances wherein a victim becomes stuck to an intake of a circulation system, rescuers fail to realize the need to immediately shut off the pump. Instead, in a panic, people tend to go to the victim and attempt prying them free.
We all need to keep that in mind - shut off the pump!
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