In a tragic incident earlier this year, 58-year-old Leticia Triplett drowned in the pool of the North Decatur Las Vegas Athletic Club (LVAC) while swimmers unknowingly passed by her. Triplett had entered the pool for her morning exercise routine, using crutches to get to the water before beginning her swim.
For nearly 25 minutes, Triplett swam and kicked her legs while holding onto the pool wall. However, she eventually stopped kicking and began to struggle, her head slipping underwater. She attempted to reach the pool stairs, which were just a few feet away, but continued to struggle as people swam nearby and walked past her, seemingly unaware of her distress.
Triplett managed to grab the handrails at the pool stairs, but she couldn’t lift herself out and fell back into the pool, her head going underwater again. She remained motionless for about 10 minutes, during which other swimmers and gym-goers continued to pass by without noticing her plight.
Woman Drowned, Went Unnoticed By Other Swimmers
Another 10 minutes passed, with some individuals stopping and looking in her direction but not intervening. Finally, a swimmer in an adjacent pool noticed Triplett’s body and jumped into the water to pull her to the edge. A group of people then gathered and helped to pull her out.
An LVAC employee arrived shortly after from a nearby locker room. CPR was performed on Triplett for three minutes before paramedics arrived, but she was pronounced dead soon after.
According to Oganna Brown, the attorney representing LVAC, the club has operated for 46 years without a drowning incident. She described Triplett’s death as an anomaly, stating that it was a result of cardiac arrest rather than a direct drowning event. However, a report from the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) indicated that there was a near-drowning at the same pool a few days after Triplett’s death.
Joel Henriod, representing SNHD, criticized the lack of a physical lifeguard at the pool, arguing that it created unsafe conditions. He pointed out that gym members should not have been the ones to rescue Triplett, emphasizing the need for trained lifeguards to ensure swimmer safety.
Drowning Is Often A Silent Killer
Drownings such as the one involving Leticia Triplett, where a person goes unnoticed by others nearby, are tragic but relatively uncommon. However, they do highlight significant concerns about pool safety and supervision. One critical factor in these incidents is the lack of lifeguards. Pools without adequate lifeguard supervision are at a higher risk of such events because lifeguards are trained to recognize and respond to signs of distress quickly. In crowded pools, it is easier for a person in trouble to go unnoticed, as individuals might assume someone else is paying attention, leading to a diffusion of responsibility.
Additionally, the swimming ability of individuals plays a role. Swimmers with limited skills or those who experience a sudden medical emergency, such as cardiac arrest, are particularly vulnerable. Awareness and training among the general public are also essential. Drowning can occur silently and swiftly, often without the dramatic splashing or calls for help that people might expect. Health conditions like heart problems can further increase the risk, as they may lead to sudden incapacitation in the water.
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