The biggest fear and deepest loss for any parent is the loss of their child. It is a pain that stays for life. Imagine losing the life of your child on something as trivial as a school picnic! Just in the past few months, we have had two such tragic incidents in Bangalore. The first one was related to a 6th Std. girl who drowned at a very popular theme park, Wonderla, where she had gone on a school picnic. I have personally been to Wonderla on umpteen occasions, and it is so difficult to believe that someone her age and height could have drowned in the wave pool. It is just so sad. A similar incident of drowning had happened last year in November when a 9-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool of a resort in Bangalore while on a picnic. As most of us are aware, most such resorts have pools that often have no lifeguards and no floats available. The kiddies pool (up to 3 feet) and the adult pool (ranging from 6 feet to 10 feet deep) are most often situated adjacent to each other. And, a bunch of noisy kids left in water, most of them not knowing swimming is a recipe for disaster. Many kids want to swim in the shallow end of the adult pool and could veer off to the deeper end without realizing. They could lose balance and get drowned. They could get accidentally pushed by the other kids and many such scary scenarios can unfold. Without immediate attention or medical help, any accident can end up claiming an innocent life.
I have two kids, and I wouldn’t dare have both of them in the pool alone with me because it is impossible to monitor two young kids up to mischief, splashing and trying out stunts with their amateur swimming skills. Can you imagine how a few teachers are supposed to monitor a bunch of them? One tiny mistake is enough to cause a tragedy. Without pointing fingers at the carelessness of teachers or fellow students, I think the best approach would be not to take young school kids for picnics to water bodies with strong currents or unmanned swimming pools. As a rule, I do not allow my kids to go for picnics to such resorts. I am all for picnics in open areas where they can run around and play. But water bodies, I don’t trust anyone except my husband and I to be vigilant with the kids. Call me paranoid, but I think it is better to be safe than sorry. I think the easiest solution would be if all the schools would implement this as a policy instead of inviting uncalled for disasters.
As an end note, I would say that accidents can strike anyone, anytime. Let us try to prevent them from happening. After all, prevention is always the better approach!
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Reference Links:
Nelamangla tragedy
This post was published in DNA newspaper. See the link here:
The best option is to drown the pool picnic policy
This is so scary. Yes Why picnic inear pools, better to have it in open spaces. In India at least there is no dearth of open spaces unlike here
I know. It would be better to avoid such places.
A very few public entertainment place like theme parks and water bodies are safe as they rarely get maintained. Very sad indeed:(
That’s true. There’s always a risk involved with maintenance too.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I agree. It is so difficult to comprehend these tragedies sometimes.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
I was also shocked to read this news on a daily opaper last week. Horrifying indeed. Having visited the theme park I was not able to believe a kid of her age could drown in the wave pool. But yes better to be safe than to be sorry later.
This is shocking news! We hear about it in Chennai too. Though our daughter’s school regularly takes kids out on excursions and in that involves them activities like rapelling etc, like you I would also like not to send her. But then the school insists saying that it is important for the child’s independence and ofcourse the kids also feel bad if the whole class goes and they do not. Water based accidents are examples but accidents can happen anywhere. I am terrified about kids getting lost in a railway station for example!
True, railway stations can be bad too. At least, the school here allows us to make the choice whether we wish to send our kids on such excursions. I have till now always refrained from sending them to adventure camps and water bodies.
Losing kids is horrendous irrespective of whether it’s in a pool or ride. Everything seems so unsafe. At the same time we have to let them go on picnics. Oh parenting is so tough!!
But I’ve been to wonderla a few times. It is always crowded. Couldn’t anyone help the drowning child:(
I once got almost lost and drowned on the sea while on a similar picnic.. And a bunch of friends saved ‘me’. I did not dare to tell this to my patents though..
That was a scary incident you had. Parenting is tough. I’d rather be strict with this thing than cry later.
That is an eye wakening post Rachna! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
It has become a routine practice for private transport companies to pack the van full of kids,often twice or thrice the capacity.Last year such a van overturned in to a river killing 25 kids.It was a rainy day and the river was flooded.And every now and then we hear the same news of children being washed away in the river or at the sea,while on picnic. I am always apprehensive about sending any one’s children for school picnics.Usually a bus full of children and one or tow teachers to take care of them. How much of care can be given !
So true! The buses or vans are overcrowded and accidents are waiting to happen. I share your concern too.
I was shocked! Right said; accidents do happen but we need to take precautions isnt it?
I know it is so scary.
Tragic ,shocking and very scary .I send my kids to educational tours conducted by the school but totally avoid picnics and swimming galas.Like you said ,it is better to be safe than sorry.
I avoid any tours or camps that take them near water or mountains till they are old enough to manage themselves. It is pretty scary.
scary thought rachna .. THe problem is in our nation not much is given to precaution , and not enough staff too..
and I hear of news everyday how a bus , a auto full of children had this accident that accident I mean when will we stop putting the lifes of our kids in danger just to make an extra bit of money..
Bikram’s
Yes. like my husband says life is of very little value in India. So, we hear of abysmal ways of children being ferried in buses like cattle and sometimes even drunk drivers driving. As parents, we are trying our best to protect our kids.
baapre..scary indeed..wellmeaning post buddy
Thank you Ramesh!
even i was surprised to hear about the wanderlaa incident and very disturbed too
it is quite possible – a small mistake is enough for accidents like these. very sad really
i mean imagine the parents waiting at the door for the child to return from the “fun trip” & instead getting this heart-breaking news! i cant think what they must have gone through, unpe kya beeti hogi
Yes can’t imagine the shock that awaited the parents and then the blame games etc. It is all so messy.
very sad! its best to keep your kiddos under supervision ..and specially in pools or near water bodies..
these incidents happen its carelessness and rest is destined by almighty sometimes it happens in-front of parents nothing can help.BUT very sad…
tracking ,hiking swimming ..there should be a chaperone..
True! With younger kids one can never be careful enough!
@ Vatinam+
Wish you a good day and full of joy…
Thank you for the visit! Unfortunately I could not understand the language your blog is in.
Such news stories leave me disturbed. It’s really unfortunate. And the teachers can’t be blamed! Like you said, prevention is the better way…
I feel similarly.
post brings me at ambivalence..
at one side accidents can be any where till when we can save any one…
on the other loosing some is miserable…
but yes prevention is the better approach..
Yes true.
I too have this approach because I think, we as parents, have to take the final responsibility about the safety of our kids, and not leave it to teachers. Like you aptly asked, “Can you imagine how a few teachers are supposed to monitor a bunch of them? One tiny mistake is enough to cause a tragedy.” Yes, and that is why it is better to be safe than sorry.
I agree. The final responsibility lies with us parents. Children are just too precious to take risks with.
Even outstation trips are no better. How often have we read about school children getting swept away by strong currents while the rest of the group watched on helplessly!
absolutely true! Outstation trips are out of question till they are in college and older.
Better to keep them safe and face their ire at missing out.
Absolutely!
Pity.Feel so sad for the family.
very sad!
It is not a hard decision to keep the children away from such outings, but explaining to them is. They understand it sooner than later and even forget them by the time they grow up, though sometimes we can’t. I am personally scared of water bodies for picnics because I lost a nephew to the ocean currents at Kanyakumari where the boys had gone to celebrate their graduation.
Actually, I have been lucky because Sid is discerning, and he does catch the headlines in the newspapers. They horrify him as much as they horrify me. So, he is okay with me not sending him. For Gautam, I did send him to a picnic last Friday to a resort after his teacher confirmed that no child will be taken to the swimming pool or any water games. They are mulling to make it a policy for all KG students. After all teachers are parents too, and they read these alarming reports as well. I hope more schools in this city come to their senses and stop these outings.
I fully endorse your views. But there instances when boys/girls go for picnicking un-escorted. Every month we have news of some young student drowning in a nearby dam.
Yes, that is true. At least in school we can try to prevent this. Once they are in college, we can only inform them and prepare them for such outings. I feel terribly sad when I read about these incidents of drowning.
Shoot! That is so sad! However I agree with your precautions! You being paranoid is not an issue when it comes to the cost of your children’s life! I agree with you Rachana!! Better be safe than sorry.
Thank you Jen. I guess it is the more prudent approach to take.
I felt sad reading this post. It is really a pathetic event.
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Thank you Winona.
So true..It would be good if the schools/teachers/parents stress on having swimming as one must do/learn activity. I do not know the situation in India though. Here, in the US, every kid is sent to swimming. They may not become professionals, but learning the basics could help to some extent.
Yes, swimming is not very common still in India. Not everyone has access to pools and coaching. And the larger pools are very dangerous. Learning is definitely crucial, I agree.
This article helps me remember that accidents happen wherever you may be. If you have kids with you, don’t compromise their safety. Above all, don’t leave your kids unattended.