Unknowing divers endangering kids

[GreenDiverDown]

Unrelated to the subject matter being discussed in this forum. The "child" in this case was not left unattended (the adult was holding the child). Your example although dramatic is not valid.

Sorry...

... it is squarely on point.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

So... you're driving down a busy street and you see a 2 year-old playing with a ball on the curb. Mom is on the porch talking on her cell but looking towards her child... apparently not concerned. The speed limit is 35 but you were doing 40.

Do you stop and DO something or is it none of your business?

If you do decide to stop, can you think of a way to approach the mother without being a jerk?

Stephen,

First, as a bicyclist, I doubt you drivers would even see the kid. Second, this is a road, where to stop in time to do something could endanger yourself. Third, if I saw something I thought would cause that kind of problem, I'd probably come around for a second look at least. On my bike, it would be much easier to stop and say something if I was on the same side of the road. These are things I could do, and in similar situations, have done. If you point it out nicely, usually the response is a quiet "Thank you" from the person involved.

One time, a boy of about two was seen riding his tricycle down the center of the road. He was recognized by a neighbor, picked up and brought home. He was over half a mile from home. He was my brother, and we are still thankful for that neighbor.

Things can get away from people very quickly, especially now with the distractions of cell phones and other electronic gear (I-Pods and headsets which may hamper hearing what's happening, for instance). By showing people the hazards they may not be aware of, you can prevent things from happening.

This is what this diver was trying to do for this father. Apparently, it went well as he did not get abusive, did not castigate, only said something to remind the diver of the problems that can happen. This is how it should be.

SeaRat

 

[scuba_aqua_girl]

Well I agree with scubafools actions 100%. Awesome job! I would have done the same thing, going up to the fater and just showing my concern. Kids are so important. I like the way glbirch set it up in 3 possible scenarios and they all benifit from just showing concern.

 

[Storm]

Last winter while working part time as a school bus driver, I had the opportunity to expereince just how unsafety minded and distracted parents can get in everyday situations.

I was dropping off four primary school students (grades 2 to 4) at their usual stop. Their parents, or caregivers, were required, by school board transportation rules, to meet the bus and escort their kids home. This was in mid winter, so the usual snow piles at the end of the driveway where the bus stop was, were about 4 or five feet high.

I stopped the bus as per usual, the parents came out to pick up thier kids, who while the parents were talking among themselves, decided that sliding down the snow piles would be fun. The parents were no more than two feet away from their kids at the time.

I immedeately saw the potential danger to the kids and called both sets of parents over and informed them, politely of course, that if one of those kids slid down the wrong side of the snow pile they would end up under the wheels of my bus, and stopping one of those big brutes isnt easy, or quick.

The look of abject horror on their faces, told me they never thought of that possibility. They saw their kids just having some good clean fun....I saw their kids sliding under the wheels of my moving bus and getting hurt or killed. They were not bad parents, that merely didnt see the everyday hazard right in front of their eyes. From that day forward they made sure that the kids stayed off of the snow piles...at least until I had pulled away from their stop.

I was tained to look for these situations, to be on guard against them, and to educate the parent and other drivers who might not "see" the hazard right in front of their eyes.

As diver's we are trained to look for and respond to safety issues....even perceived ones. ScubaFool, you did the right thing.

Better to err on side of caution...is this not one of the fundamental training disciples in recreational diving?

 

[ItsBruce]

The original link is somewhat old, but recent additions prompted me to add my thoughts. People often fail to see potential dangers and it is proper to politely alert them to the potential dangers. When someone points out a potential danger that you may have overlooked, graciously thank them.

 

[JRScuba]

The original link is somewhat old, but recent additions prompted me to add my thoughts. People often fail to see potential dangers and it is proper to politely alert them to the potential dangers. When someone points out a potential danger that you may have overlooked, graciously thank them.

That is true and there certainly are alot of assumptions. Way to many to address and both sides have valid ways of viewing how things might have went. As a teenager I never realized the danger of diving from a 12' divingboard to the bottom of a 15' pool and holding my breath until I surfaced. Actually I think most of us have done something like that one time or another.

As it has been pointed out that ( at least it appears that way ) the diver listened to SF. Do not know how the discussion went. So, lets say the diver was nice and excepted SF concern politely. I wonder how it would of played out if the diver advised SF the dangers of SOLO diving. Just a thought. But we have to consider the situation at the time of the encounter.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

..I wonder how it would of played out if the diver advised SF the dangers of SOLO diving. Just a thought. But we have to consider the situation at the time of the encounter.

If you want to compare, then I think that the dangers of solo driving, solo kayaking, and solo piloting, should also be considered. This thread was very specific, and talked about a specific intervention that was made for the good of a child. It has nothing at all to do with solo diving. At least a solo diver is only "endangering" himself, and not a child.

SeaRat

 

[ghostdiver1957]

I think the fool should be more worried about her own poor behavior than with anyone elses. If I saw her down there alone with her mask on (like it is in her avatar,) I would likely have to pull her aside and lecture her on being unsafe. While her actions with the father and child were admirable, her own actions seem to negate them. As they say... two wrongs don't make a right...

 

[adurso]

This thread is starting to get interesting...gender-wise also....

 

[captain]

That is true and there certainly are alot of assumptions. Way to many to address and both sides have valid ways of viewing how things might have went. As a teenager I never realized the danger of diving from a 12' divingboard to the bottom of a 15' pool and holding my breath until I surfaced. Actually I think most of us have done something like that one time or another.

As it has been pointed out that ( at least it appears that way ) the diver listened to SF. Do not know how the discussion went. So, lets say the diver was nice and excepted SF concern politely. I wonder how it would of played out if the diver advised SF the dangers of SOLO diving. Just a thought. But we have to consider the situation at the time of the encounter.

The only danger in diving off a diving board to the bottom of a 15' deep pool is hitting your head on the bottom. Holding your breath while doing so poses absolutely no danger.
I suggest you review the cause of embolism as you appear to not understand it. Only if you take a breath underwater, under pressure and then surface while holding your breath do you risk embolism.