17 month old drowns in ohio river

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/15/2011

OK, I'm going to go ahead and close this post. Alex, I understand your frustration and that you only joined this forum to comment on this thread. I did delete your first post due to the personal attacks in it, but I can see why you believe the other posts are personal attacks as well (hence the closing). This particular community is a debating community and we do pick up stories from the news or anything that members think will bring arguments from both sides.
Sara
Admin

April - posted on 10/15/2011

I've been kayaking and it's not an easy sport to take up!! That's why I have only done it once. It takes a lot of coordination, focus, and athleticism. You also have to be familiar with the body of water you will be traveling on. You need to know if there are any small or large waterfalls, need to know where places are especially deep/ shallow and so forth. One needs to be really serious about this sport. It is not an activity for a 17 month old, period. It is an activity for people who know how to swim and have enough muscles to navigate safely. They put an infant at risk knowing they didn't know how to swim (that's child endangerment). They didn't know how to put the life jacket on and they KNEW it was on wrong (that's also child endangerment). I think SHOULD be charged with child endangerment, but I don't think the punishment should be harsh. I think they should do community service/be on probation for a few months...something along those lines. I think a light sentence is good enough because losing your child is the worst punishment I can imagine as a mother.

Alex - posted on 10/15/2011

And God forbid you ever lose a child and people want to put YOU in jail for an accident when you have other children to raise and you have to deal with this everyday. I could see her reliving this incident in her eyes. when I read the article it brought me to tears can you imagine having to watch your own child die and there is nothing you can do about it? This isnt' time to debate how logical it is to take a toddler kayaking what happen already happened BE COMPASSIONATE TO YOUR FELLOW MOTHERS IN A TIME OF GRIEF!!!

Bevely - posted on 06/12/2011

You know, I live in Louisiana and I love to go canoeing, but I haven't been in years since I have had children. Now my kids are 9 and 7 and they can swim, and I planning on taking them for the first time this summer. But the bayou I was going to take them, the water doesn't get over 4 feet, it is not a very fast current, and it is a well populated area, plus I can swim, and I know CPR, but still I was concerned. So I can't imagine why these people did this.

Brie - posted on 06/09/2011

Sara I have to disagree because there are to many problems with the situation for it to be a simple stupid mistake.. they could have prevented the childs death several ways but weren't smart enough to... now had it just been a bad life jacket or whatever thats one thing but being the first time kayaking, neither can swim, didn't have life jacket on properly, no security line or anything... that is just to much to let them go with!

September - posted on 06/09/2011

Brittany S. I would never take our son out on a fast moving river at that age. I'm not dumb :)

September - posted on 06/09/2011

Yeah Brittany the puget sound is not the best place for kayaking I do agree. It can get crazy out there in the summer time. However there are tons of other places to enjoy. :)

September - posted on 06/09/2011

Tasha I am in Washington. I live in Seattle :) I'll be sure to take your advice while snowboarding for the first time, thanks! :)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 06/09/2011

I, personally, get very umcomfortable when my daughter is near water. She's 2. I would never, ever take her into a body of water if I couldn't swim. That doesn't make sense. I don't think they should be charged though. Unfortunately drownings happen all of the time. You would have to charge every parent and I'm sure living with the fact that their child died (and maybe because they didn't make the best decision) is probably punishment enough.

Brie - posted on 06/08/2011

let me add something as well to this story to kind of explain why i flipped out.. a little thing i forgot to mention was also that the ohio river is a very fast moving river.. not to mention that right now with the weather we have it is also 5 feet above flood level and moving super fast anyway... as well as several barges being in the water... that was the reason for my flip out on why the hell would you take a baby kayaking!!?? just thought you all should know!

Brittany - posted on 06/08/2011

@ September: I'm sure there are... I just don't know them. I've just seen the insane people in their little boats out there. I think if I got a chance where I didn't have to worry about a baby, I'm sure my hubby would teach me. My daughter did go for a boat ride last summer. It was a little row boat on a tiny lake. The only problem was she wanted to hop in the water (she had just started swimming lessons).

Tasha - posted on 06/08/2011

Hello september, i grew up in portland and rode meadows alot when i was in oregon, now im in enumclaw so im super close to crystal, takes us about 50 min to get there! Snowboarding is super awesome, but if your anything like me, not that graceful, the first day or two can be kindof exahsting. Take it slow, dont try and keep up witth anyone and look where you want to go, some mantras i tried that helped me, im sure youll hava blast. How bout you, youre in washington too?

Sherri - posted on 06/08/2011

It was a terrible accident end of story. I agree with the decision not to charge them. It was simply an accident.

September - posted on 06/08/2011

Tasha where in Washington do you live? My husband grew up skiing on Mt. Bachelor and I think this year we're going to try to snowboard for the first time together. Fun! :)

Tasha - posted on 06/08/2011

I dont really think it is the age of the child that is the problem, i would never take my baby in a kayak, because i have no idea how to kayak. From some of the posts i read it seems there are a few responsible parents who know what they are doing, who are just sharing the world with their children. I live in Washington state and me and my husband love to snowboard, we will most definately take our son when we feel hes old enough. I dont believe it is the age, the activity, i think it is the utter lack of sense and that the irresponsibility of two people has resulted in the death of an innocent child. They are obviously not good decision makers.

September - posted on 06/08/2011

Brittany there’s lots of places in Washington where you can kayak other than the puget sound. I would not kayak in the puget sound; I would not swim in the puget sound. Washington is full of beautiful, calm and peaceful lakes that are great for kayaking. :)

Brittany - posted on 06/08/2011

If the child was able to get out of the life jacket (even after death) it was most likely the wrong type or wrong size. With that being the case I would concider that neglect.

Personally I wouldn't take my daugther (who is about the same age) kayaking. I would worry too much, although I wouldn't go kayaking by myself either. Although the only place to do it is in the Pudget Sound... uh no. Too much boat traffic.

At the same time, I would take her canoeing... But only if my husband was with us. I know I could save her if she fell in, but hubby is certified and has been doing it half his life.

September - posted on 06/08/2011

It is really sad that a little boy lost his life because his parents are ignorant.

Brie - posted on 06/08/2011

just an update for you all they found the babies body a few miles down about two days ago! it is irresponsible to take your children out on the water when you don't know anything about what you are doing... they shouldn't have been alone, they shouldn't have taken their child the first time and they should have learned about safety as well... I look at it this way unless you can swim or have someone with you that can keep your ass out of the water! duh thats kinda obvious right???!!! there is a big difference between doing this with training and without...

September - posted on 06/08/2011

I'm sorry but you're more likely to be hit by a bus than you are dying from a kayaking accident.

September - posted on 06/08/2011

Melissa comparing kayaking to sky diving is a bit extreme. I will continue to enjoy kayaking with my family including my 2.5 year old son that loves doing it and I don't care what you have to say about it! I don't know where you got your statics from but they are not correct. You must be the helicopter type Mom huh? I'm sorry but I'm not a "what if" kind of person or Mom and I’m very responsible as well.....our son is incredibly well rounded and loves the outdoors.

Victoria - posted on 06/08/2011

In this instance, I think these people are just stupid.
1. They don't know how to swim
2. First trip in the kayak
3. Not sure the life jacket was strapped properly

All 3 of those things add up to accident waiting to happen. What a horrible way to discover that they had a bad idea.
It's not like they were experienced with anything they were doing that day. I have no problem with people taking their tiny kids out on the water. Heck, my 19 month old LOVES water. Daddy will be taking her out on a paddle boat this summer. But Daddy played water polo, and can swim very well, and Little Girl will have on a life jacket. Did I mention the fact I know how my baby life jacket works?

Medic - posted on 06/07/2011

There is a huge difference between doing something like jumping out of a plane and going on a small boat on the water. You are taking this to an extreme. There are more dangerous things to do statistically...for example riding in a car. You are more likely to die from riding in a car than in a kayak. But because riding in a car is something that you probably do regularly you can dismiss those stats. People take their kids swimming, so please tell me how being in a kayak is more dangerous than swimming.

Melissa - posted on 06/07/2011

You can have a love for the outdoors without having to put your children in harms way. Why not take them sky diving next? You'd bring them on a plane, so what's the difference?

Medic - posted on 06/07/2011

Well damn I guess my husband and I are foolishly irresponsible parents. We take our 4.5 year old and 16 month old kayaking almost weekly. Everything in life is dangerous, I want my kids to have a love of the outdoors and sports and we are safe. The kids wear lifejackets and the older one can swim. We take them swimming in the same river so what is the difference between swimming and kayaking?

Melissa - posted on 06/07/2011

I think given that over 100 experienced adults lose their lives as a result of kayaking accidents every year, I wouldn't think it would be a place to bring a child. It only takes one time. Yes, one could say that accidents happen every day, "you could get hit by a bus walking across the street" is a popular one, but considering we all know that, I think it's a bit silly to invite bigger risk into your life. Even people who have been doing any given sport in the same location year after year have encountered situations that have gotten out of their control and it's resulted in deaths and/or injuries. I personally just don't agree with it at all, I think it's foolishly risky, and I think to involve a young child is extremely irresponsible.

September - posted on 06/07/2011

Well we’ve gone Kayaking with our son at that age, in fact we've been a few times now and he’s 2.5. I grew up on the water and our son loves the water and well we're responsible. I know how to swim and our son's life jacket is always put on properly and we go out on a lake not a river. I think it's silly to have a child out in the water if the parent does not know how to swim. Hello! So sad.

Melissa - posted on 06/05/2011

OMG!!! I live in CT so this is the first I'm hearing of this, but I can not believe TWO people who be thoughtless enough to think this was ok. Yes, a regular boat is one thing, but KAYAKING??? That's dangerous for adults, let alone children! I can't believe how careless parents can be, and it so so often claims the life of an innocent child. And it's almost worse that after all is said and done, the people responsible for caring for this child and keeping them safe aren't even held accountable!!

Here in CT just a few weeks ago a little 3 year old boy lost his life. He was at the park with his grandmother, and she wasn't watching him. She was on one end of the park while he was on the other chasing after a group of older boys. He ran out into the road and got hit by a car. The driver got out to check on the boy, but ended up running because a mob of people began chasing after him threatening his life. He went to the police station later that day to turn himself in. At the court house the family members of the boy had to be removed because they were screaming death threats at him. Again, an innocent life lost simply because his grandmother was not paying attention and watching him.

These parents and that grandmother NEED to be held accountable for their actions. They said themselves they didn't think the life jacket was put on properly. Some would say losing a child is punishment enough, but personally, the IDEA of losing my child is threat enough for me to ensure his safety every minute of every day!

Jennifer - posted on 06/04/2011

Idiots, truly idiots. I am so sorry for their baby that his own parents didn't have enough sense to keep him safe.

Sandi - posted on 06/04/2011

they have been totally neglegant , they have lost their baby and that is very sad for them, but to go out in any water and unable to swim.....were they trying to drown together??? they will be suffering at the loss, but still need punished.......or help!!

Lacye - posted on 06/04/2011

Wow! That poor baby! I think they should have been charged at least with child endangerment. That baby shouldn't have been there in the first place. They even admitted that they didn't think the life jacket wasn't on properly. Yeah. They knew better than to get into that kayak.