Gothamist: Nanny Dies While Trying to Save Drowning Boy

JenChungsBra

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:33:26 -0500

Fucking nannies - can't read, can't swim, can't leave the country.

izote

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:36:22 -0500

According to the news on Telemundo she was in her 40s, an immigrant (South American, judging by the accents of her family members; Argentine, maybe? I'm guessing.) Apparently she had worked for the family for years and was pulled out of the pool a few minutes after the child.

NannyState

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:27:37 -0500

Whatever her age, that nanny was precious and will be terribly missed. A true heroine, if ever there was one.

Spiritof76

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:43:12 -0500

Which article says she was 47? The Newsday article says she was 49. The WCBS article says, "The woman, in her 60s..."

rachelblue

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:30 -0500

According to the article, the nanny was 47...not in her 60s. She was in cardiac arrest when they pulled her out of the pool.

MidCFrank

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:14:29 -0500

Columbia College (and the CU engineering school) require that you take a swim test and pass, or at least take a semester of swimming lessons in order to graduate. From what I was told, someone long ago donated money to the school with this stipulation -- the idea being that an educated gentleman should know how to swim. At one point in the early 80's a bunch of geeks tried to overturn this requirement, but thankfully it still stands. (Or should I say floats?!?!) I'm always amazed to learn that an adult can't swim. It's a basic skill that should be taught at a very young age.

BQE

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:26:54 -0500

I'll take a step even further and say every breathing creature -- human or no -- should know basic and advanced CPR. Especially the blessed nannies who old or no, knowing how to swim or no, have it within their capacity to be like Shelley Winters in the Poseidon Adventure (the original, mind you). We'll just have to wait for details, remaining at least 3 feet from the side of the pool. Amen to all of the above who do so the young may live.

Spiritof76

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:28:03 -0500

You're assuming the nanny died trying to get out. Maybe she died trying to get to the kid. If you can't swim, dog paddling while trying to drag someone to safety would be extremely difficult. Besides, we don't know what really killed her. For all we know, she could swim but could have had a heart attack since she was elderly. Ever see Shelley Winters in the original "Poseidon Adventure"? We'll just have to wait for details from the autopsy, if they're ever released to the press and public.

Rocknrope

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:12:16 -0500

I'll take a step even further and say everyone breathing should know basic CPR and first aid. Indeed, the nanny is a saint for sacrificing her own life to save the child. I always wonder about these adult pool drownings, though. Even if you don't know how to swim, doesn't everyone know how to dog paddle or keep themselves afloat enough to get 3 feet to the side of the pool?

Rocknrope

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:08:39 -0500

UnrepentantFenian

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:45:19 -0500

To #3 I'd take it a step further and say that every parent should know CPR and basic first aid. God bless the nanny who sacrificed her life so that a child might live.

Atomische

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:32:19 -0500

I think the real questions is why don't who own pools don't know how to do CPR ... if the child has brain damage it's the mother's fault for not starting it herself immediately.

Spiritof76

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:06:12 -0500

Hey, Einstein, the nanny doesn't own the pool. How do you know the mother didn't know how to swim? Toddlers don't know how to swim, so you're blaming them? Maybe you'd like to talk to your legislator and have that pool alarm law amended to ban pool ownership by parents who have small children. Have some respect for someone who lost her life trying to help, you dolt.

Roger McDowell

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:17:40 -0500

Do people in Long Island know how to swim? All these pools and a bunch of duck pond swimmers. Don't have a pool if you can't swim.