Tuesday

John McLaren Park in San Francisco, CA

Received Tuesday, August 21, 2007
BABY ALMOST DROWNED-- John McLaren Park in San Francisco.
SUNDAY, 8/19- Nearly 2-yr-old baby boy was unattended at John McLaren Park and he jumped into a huge lagoon and was drowning. As soon as we noticed a man was able to rescue the little boy (Alex I think was his name). It took more than 5 minutes to locate the boys parent--his supposed father. The father looked either drunk or drugged out or coming off of some serious mind-altering substances...we asked, "is this your son?" and he kind of stumbled and said "uuuh---yeah---uhhh, that's my son"...he claimed he was playing soccer and the boy ran away on his own--mind you, this child was a new walker and must have been out of the fathers' sight for a long time...HE HAD NO ID ON HIM and NOOO we did NOT give him his son even though he said it was his son.
OP HERE (5:57 PM EST) I did post a longer post but the whole thing didn't come up. I am a nanny and rushed to the scene, wrapped a blanket around the boy, comforted him, and called the police. The police came and took the baby to the ambulance and another officer took the father. The main point of this post was to remind everyone to get CPR CERTIFIED and/or UPDATE your CPR Certifications, nanies and parents alike (in fact, everyone). This boy could have DIED and luckily I know baby CPR, first aid, and how to comfort a child during a traumatic event. It is everyones' responsibility to look out for ALL children because unfortunately, stupid people are allowed to breed....I imagine Child Protective Services will take things from here...

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

The kid must have been much younger than 2 if he was a new walker.

So-if you didn't give him the child-where is the child now? I am confused as to the purpose of this post-are you trying to say you have someone's child in your care?

Anonymous said...

Yes please tell us what happend with the child. Did the police come and take control of the situation? I'm so glad that man rescued this poor child, he is a hero.

Anonymous said...

Thank God he is okay. Good for you guys for not giving him the child!! I hope Child Welfare got involved with this

Thanks for posting

Anonymous said...

Great job OP! If he got his 'son' back, he probably would have lost him again. Did anyone call the police? This kind of situation is worth a 911 call for the medical situation, and the disoriented guy claiming to be the dad.

Anonymous said...

yes, OP. Please give us more details! An interesting post but I need more!

Unknown said...

I wouldn't have either! By the appearance and what appears as lack of interest, he doesn't deserve to be a father!

Ilana said...

OP HERE: I did post a longer post but the whole thing didn't come up. I am a nanny and rushed to the scene, wrapped a blanket around the boy, comforted him, and called the police. The police came and took the baby to the ambulance and another officer took the father. The main point of this post was to remind everyone to get CPR CERTIFIED and/or UPDATE your CPR Certifications, nanies and parents alike (in fact, everyone). This boy could have DIED and luckily I know baby CPR, first aid, and how to comfort a child during a traumatic event. It is everyones' responsibility to look out for ALL children because unfortunately, stupid people are allowed to breed....I imagine Child Protective Services will take things from here...

Anonymous said...

OP, so glad to read you called the police, good job.
I second your CPR recommendation. You may never need it, but there may be that one time when you save a child's life. The Red Cross course is one day, six or seven hours. If you care for children, or are a parent, invest in that one day. (Most of the nannies I know are certified, I don't know any parents who are!)
A Nanny

Anonymous said...

wow, this is such an intense post and also a strong reminder about water safety, CPR training, worthless childminders, including parents in this case. If ever there is a question or a doubt about intervening on the behalf of a child, this post should answer that question. When in doubt, take action for the benefit and safety of a child. Good post. Thanks, OP.

Anonymous said...

2:22 what is wrong with you???
you did not get what?purpose of post? for stupid people like you to
learn c.p.r.and take care of your kids...easy

P.S. great post THANK YOU

Anonymous said...

Word!

Anonymous said...

So true, I never meet any parents that were CPR certified.

Anonymous said...

I'm a parent and I'm CPR certified. Though it's easy to forget it all and I need to get a renewal.

Anonymous said...

I once nannied for a doctor, and once when she was home we were all in the living room with her child and the child started choking on cheerios (she always let the children walk around with food, pretty dumb) and she started freaking out, saying "she's choking!! what do I do???" I was really shocked that she didn't know what to do. She grabbed the child before I could do anything and flipped her upside down and started wacking her on the back. I'm telling you, the child was more in danger of getting whiplash than choking on a cheerio. Very quickly, the cheerio got dislodged and the child was fine: she hadn't really been "choking" persay, since if you are making noise and coughing, you are not really choking, I guess the doctor didn't know that.
She was kind of an idiot, though.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like my doctor. Brown hair, kind of short and pudgy?

Anonymous said...

FINALLY!!!! An OP that actually got involved and did something! Good for you!

Anonymous said...

i was there and while it happened, it wasnt all quite as dramatic as the OP is saying. the child was not a new walker, he didnt almost "drown". post thats fine but stay off the drama.

Anonymous said...

1:29: Okay, whatever!

Sounds like you are bitter because if you were in fact there, you were left out of the thank yous and praise for helping.

Did you do anything to try to help or just sit back watch and then 2 days later decide to post here?

I don't think you were really there.

Anonymous said...

1:29 PM
Either you weren't really there, or you are another stand by and do nothing for a child that is not yours. Either way, nothing to be proud of.

Anonymous said...

OP HERE, in response to 1:29:

I am going to repeat that it was as dramatic as I posted it. The child was under 2 yrs old, so had probably been walking for a few months (which to me, I would still describe as a pretty new walker)...

You say he wasn't drowning...this kid would not have survived had the man not pulled him out of the water--the kid was soaked head to toe! How can that be classified as not dramatic?! I have no idea whether you were really there or not, but wanted to respond to you, regardless.

Anonymous said...

Thanks OP.

My son is 16 months...has been walking on his own since Father's Day, but is still unsteady at times and falls, especially outdoors where the ground is not perfectly level and when he has on shoes. So even though he has been walking a couple months, I would definiely call him a new walker.

Anyway, I think we all believe you and obviously quite a few think 1:29 is blowing smoke.

Anonymous said...

I have an active and agile 19 month old who has been walking for 7 month. I still consider him a new walker because he is still a bit wobbly, and has a touchdown once in a while.

OP, don't let 1:29 ruin your weekend. This is just a case of the crazy buggies.

Anonymous said...

6:37 The doctor did the right thing for her child, that is how you stop choking in a young child. the heimlech maneuver in small children is inappropriate, you learn that in Basic Life Support. Also it is really common for medical professionals to react differently to their loved ones having a medical crisis, its a different mindset.

Anonymous said...

Did I miss the "I saw your nanny" part of this report? Or has this turned into the "parental neglect" site?