Dad Breathes Air Into Son Trapped Underwater For 7 Minutes

[Captain Chaos]

Dad Breathes Air Into Son Trapped Underwater For 7 Minutes
Boy's Recovery Considered Miracle

POSTED: 10:19 am EDT July 21, 2006
UPDATED: 10:29 am EDT July 21, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A 14-year-old who was sucked to the bottom of a hotel hot tub and kept under water for at least seven minutes was likely saved by air his father breathed into his mouth during the ordeal.

Aljuwon Pipkin, who was visiting Walt Disney World from New Jersey, became stuck at the bottom of the hot tub last Thursday at the Radisson Parkway Hotel.

Officials said a grate at the bottom of the tub apparently broke and created a strong suction that pulled the teen underwater.

Pipkin's father was at the pool and noticed his son stuck at the bottom of the hot tub.

"I get chills now even speaking about it," father Sharif Pipkin said. "I was truly a traumatic moment. I figured he was at the bottom and they just couldn't pull him up and then he didn't come up. And, I pulled again and he didn't come up. I began to holler for help from people."

As people jumped in to pull the teen from the bottom of the tub, Pipkin's father jumped in and began to breathe air into his son's mouth, the report said.

"(Aljuwon Pipkin) doesn't remember the frantic help from hotel guests and doesn't remember his father breathing into his mouth underwater," Local 6 reporter Jessica Sanchez said.

Pipkin was transported to Florida Hospital South in critical condition and initial scans of his brain were abnormal. Doctors feared he suffered brain damage.

However, seven days after the near drowning, Pipkin was given the OK to leave the hospital. He was diagnosed as being healthy with no permanent damage from the incident.

"The fact that he woke up at all is being considered a miracle," Sanchez said.

"I just remember going down to the pool and then waking up in the hospital," Pipkin said. "I can appreciate life more," Aljuwon Pipkin said. "It makes you want to work harder for things."

Pipkin's family said they do not blame the Radisson Hotel and said they believe what happened was an accident, the report said.

Please discuss.. I am glad the boy is ok.. but what is parents said is pretty interesting... They believe it was an accident... And do not blame the Radisson Hotel.. Hmmm...

 

[trr313]

That's horrible. I'm glad the boy is okay. His Dad saved him for sure.

 

[joel_maxwell]

wow, interesting story for sure. that must have been a strong current.... especially for a small hot tub. that is confusing

Question: ive heard of situations like this in movies or books and in the James Bond: View to a Kill; but in this case wouldnt the air that the father was breathing out be CO2 instead of O2?

and in the case of the bond movie: roger moore is in a vehicle that gets pushed into a lake. he swims out of the vehicle and takes air fro the tires with his finger pressing the valve....... what is the ole saying, only in the movies.

 

[Hubkap]

There's more Oxygen in an exhaled breath than CO2.

 

[PintoColvig]

From what I can tell from here (in SE Kentucky), the hottub was damaged by an excessive amount of swirling caused by an external source. The most likely culprit being the centrifuges at Mission: Space. :animwink:

There's got to be a connection to M:S somehow. :smile:

 

[Monty]

Exhaled breath = Carbon Dioxide - not deadly, contains sufficient oxygen to sustain life.
Car exhaust = Carbon Monoxide - poisonous, will kill you.

 

[joel_maxwell]

There's more Oxygen in an exhaled breath than CO2.

i was unaware of this......

 

[tigsmom]

Exhaled breath = Carbon Dioxide - not deadly, contains sufficient oxygen to sustain life.
Car exhaust = Carbon Monoxide - poisonous, will kill you.

Right.

Atmospheric air is 21% oxygen, exhaled air is about 18% oxygen which is better than the 0% he was getting.

The father breathing into the son is called mouth to mouth resucitation, part of rescue operations. Its good for all people to know along with CPR.

 

[joel_maxwell]

Right.

Atmospheric air is 21% oxygen, exhaled air is about 18% oxygen which is better than the 0% he was getting.

The father breathing into the son is called mouth to mouth resucitation, part of rescue operations. Its good for all people to know along with CPR.

ok, i thought that the % was so much lower then that (5% or so)

secondly, i have been under the impression that the mouth to mouth resucitation was to keep the lugs inflated (with at the time my missunderstanding of % of O2) and the compressions were obviously to restart the heart. i kind of feel dumb right now......

mad: you got any answers about the under water tire senario from Bond.

 

[Tim G]

I find it horrible, but still I'm glad something bad happened which had nothing to do with Walt Disney World...

 

[tigsmom]

ok, i thought that the % was so much lower then that (5% or so)

secondly, i have been under the impression that the mouth to mouth resucitation was to keep the lugs inflated (with at the time my missunderstanding of % of O2) and the compressions were obviously to restart the heart. i kind of feel dumb right now......

mad: you got any answers about the under water tire senario from Bond.

You can breath for somebody if their heart is beating to keep the O2 levels in their blood up or you can use it as part of the CPR if the heart is stopped.

I had to double check the percentages of O2, but I knew it was up there. As for Mr Bond...who knows... it may work, but I don't think you could get a decent amount out of a tire. *shrugs*

 

[PintoColvig]

Amen, Corrus

 

[joel_maxwell]

You can breath for somebody if their heart is beating to keep the O2 levels in their blood up or you can use it as part of the CPR if the heart is stopped.

I had to double check the percentages of O2, but I knew it was up there. As for Mr Bond...who knows... it may work, but I don't think you could get a decent amount out of a tire. *shrugs*

it is Bond afterall..... in which means, a bunch of crap that cant happen in real life. im just a fan of the old movies. No Pierce, thanks.

 

[tigsmom]

it is Bond afterall..... in which means, a bunch of crap that cant happen in real life. im just a fan of the old movies. No Pierce, thanks.

Sean Connery will always be Bond, James Bond to me.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I find it horrible, but still I'm glad something bad happened which had nothing to do with Walt Disney World...

Yes, but did you notice they still threw WDW in the article??? As if the Mouse dragged this kid into the pool...

 

[Erika]

What a story!! I am so glad it turned out OK. Quick thinking on the father's part.

 

[Woody13]

The two biggest safety problems with hot tubs is body entrapment and hair entanglement. Hot tubs should be equipped with two drains so that if one drain becomes blocked, the other drain takes over the load until the blocked drain is clear.

Also, safety drain covers are made to reduce hair entrapment and body entrapment as well and should be in place on all hot tubs used by hotel guests. They need to sue Radisson IMO.

Children in water often play a game to see who can hold their breath the longest underwater. :wave:

 

[Nemo14]

The two biggest safety problems with hot tubs is body entrapment and hair entanglement. Hot tubs should be equipped with two drains so that if one drain becomes blocked, the other drain takes over the load until the blocked drain is clear.

Also, safety drain covers are made to reduce hair entrapment and body entrapment as well and should be in place on all hot tubs used by hotel guests. They need to sue Radisson IMO.

Children in water often play a game to see who can hold their breath the longest underwater. :wave:

I remember a few years ago a teen drowned in a hot tub near here when her hair got caught. I always think of that when I see unattended kids,particularly girls, in a hot tub.kids

 

[Tim G]

Yes, but did you notice they still threw WDW in the article??? As if the Mouse dragged this kid into the pool...

So true...

 

[ILUVTHEMOUSE]

A couple of months ago, former Secy of State James Baker and his wife were on Larry King Live. They were there to encourage awareness of the dangers of hot tubs. Their 7 year old granddaughter drowned in a hot tub four years ago.

She died due to the same circumstances this boy encountered. The drain sucked her to the bottom. Fortunately, this boy's story wound up with a much happier ending. Glad he was discovered in time and his father acted quickly.