JASON RANTZ

Rantz: Why I don’t trust any lifeguard

Aug 23, 2016, 10:57 AM | Updated: 3:05 pm

Wild Waves...

Witnesses described the scene at Wild Waves as chaotic and say the lifeguards took time to debate about what to do. (South King Fire & Rescue)

(South King Fire & Rescue)

The KIRO Radio hosts discussed a KIRO 7 investigation that says lifeguards found a man’s body at the bottom of a Wild Waves pool by accident.

KIRO 7 reported that multiple people claimed to see 32-year-old Vijayarengan Srinivasan, who drowned at Wild Waves Saturday, at the bottom of a pool but that the claims were not taken seriously. The man’s death comes as at least four other major amusement park accidents have been reported across the U.S.

“Jason Rantz Show”

Jason Rantz: “I just don’t have any trust in any lifeguard. When we’re talking about a water park or a worker at a theme park, they’re usually just kids. Some 20-something kid who is maybe working there over college, maybe it’s a first job out of high school. Do you actually trust them with your life? When you look at a place like Wild Waves or any theme park, they clearly have an incentive to make sure everyone is safe. I don’t have any doubt that they put these people through somewhat intense training but I do wonder if we’re just getting away with not getting injured. Is it possible that it’s generally so safe that it doesn’t matter that these workers are there? Things like this usually don’t happen and the moment that you do rely on lifeguards, things start to turn south. I just don’t trust them. It’s not because they’re bad people or untrustworthy, it’s just that they’re so incredibly young. I was once 18 to 25 and I was not a particularly trustworthy individual. I wouldn’t trust 20-year-old me protecting somebody’s life.”

“Tom and Curley”

Tom Tangney: “It always struck me that lifeguards seem to be there for show rather than help. You’re sitting there for six or eight hours a day, and 99 percent the time nothing happens. So on that 1 percent of times when it does, you really need to be all go. It’s like firemen. But they’re not firemen, they’re kids.”

“Ron and Don”

Ron Upshaw: “You’re just trying to get as many people down that slide as possible. In and out, in and out. So to take a college student or maybe someone a little bit older and say watch everybody in this pool and be able to rescue everybody, that seems like a very difficult thing.”

KIRO traffic reporter Candy Harper, was at Wild Waves two weeks prior to the fatal incident and saw a 10-year-old disregard a lifeguard’s instructions on a slide and get injured: “He didn’t tuck his chin to his chest and he hit his head on the back of the slide and those lifeguards were in the water instantly,” she said. “They pulled him out on a stretcher, were checking him to make sure he was OK. So I saw the lifeguards perform a very quick task that day. But while I was standing there talking to another lifeguard she said, August is really tough here because all of the college-aged lifeguards go back to school which leaves us with a much larger underage staff.”

“Dori Monson Show”

Dori Monson: “I think the lifeguards are there for the little kids who get dropped off by their parents or the little kids whose parents aren’t supervising them. I’m trying to figure out how this is Wild Waves’ fault. I see this story and it seems like personal responsibility has been left out of the evaluation.”

Check back for more takes by KIRO hosts as the story progresses.

John Curley and Shari Elliker on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to tom and curleyTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 3pm for John Curley and Shari Elliker.

John Curley and Shari Elliker

Jason Rantz on AM 770 KTTH
  • listen to jason rantzTune in to AM 770 KTTH weekdays at 3-7pm toThe Jason Rantz Show.

Jason Rantz Show

Jason Rantz

Image: Seattle Police Department officers arrest a woman caught driving a stolen car full of stolen...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Activists to harass cops with Seattle Police complaint campaign

A Seattle Police complaint campaign by activists amounts to little more than harassment. But it could backfire, generating sympathy for cops.

4 hours ago

Image: A Boeing 737 Max 10 airliner taxis past a hanger on the flight line before its first flight ...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: It’s time for Washington to worry about Boeing surviving

Boeing controversy after controversy, plus bad press, threatens the company's future. Washington should be very worried right now.

1 day ago

Image: Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters dur...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Trump ‘bloodbath’ controversy is the latest media invention

When President Donald Trump used the term "bloodbath," the media became unhinged. He wasn't talking about violence, but the auto industry.

1 day ago

...

MyNorthwest Video

Video: KTTH Roundtable: Will TikTok Be Banned?

A local mystery was solved in Los Angeles (with a surprising end result) and Jason Rantz and Bryan Suits tackle the arguments behind the TikTok ban. Listen to The Bryan Suits Show weekdays from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. on AM 770 KTTH or on-demand wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen to The Jason Rantz […]

3 days ago

Inset: Headshot of Seattle Police Department (SPD) Captain Deanna Nollette; Primary photo: An SPD v...

Jason Rantz

Rantz: Officer suing Seattle police for gender discrimination accused of gender bias

Seattle police officers said Captain Deanna Nollette, who sued the department for gender bias, is "notorious" for mistreating female officers.

5 days ago

Kim Wyman...

Bill Kaczaraba

Is ex-Secretary of State Kim Wyman running for that office again?

Rumors are spreading that former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is running for that office again.

5 days ago

Rantz: Why I don’t trust any lifeguard