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The Osaka Board of Education has blamed negligence on the part of school officials and a pool safety management company after a 7-year-old boy drowned in a swimming pool at Sunagawa Public Elementary School in Sennan City, Osaka, on July 31. The board said in a statement that only one lifeguard was on duty. It also said that on July 25, a visitor had complained to school authorities about the lack of lifeguards assigned to supervise children while they were swimming.
According to TV news reports, Taisho Corp is the company responsible for the school's pool safety management. On Aug 2, Osaka police conducted a search of Taisho's offices on the grounds that the company might be guilty of professional negligence resulting in death. Police believe the number of lifeguards did not meet regulations on many occasions in the past. Municipal regulations state that four lifeguards must be present at big pools.
According to the school board, a woman who visited the pool with her child on July 25, phoned in saying there was only one lifeguard at the big pool. The school said it contacted Taisho Corp and requested more lifeguards.
The boy, identified as Kizuku Hokari, drowned in the pool at around 1:20 p.m. on the 31st. Neither the school nor Taisho have been able to say how many lifeguards were on duty that afternoon.
© Japan Today
8 Comments
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Cricky
Neither the school or the company responsible are able so say how many anti-lifeguards were on duty? Who is responsible for this? Apparently not the school or the company paid to be responsible. Are the anti-lifeguards actually able to swim? Have they been taught CPR? Or do they look good in bathers?
hisashiburi
Whatever happened to that case where a 3yo drowned at a kindergarten pool?
amerijap
This is professional negligence perpetrated by both school and a private company. They are responsible for providing safety and security needs for the students. Lifeguards don't have to be the ones from the company. And they don't necessarily have to be certified lifeguards to watch over the kids for walking around and swimming in the pool. Anyone—an adult, a school teacher, etc.--could have served as a lifeguard instead when you weren't able to get those from the company.
papasmurfinjapan
Sounds like cost-cutting to me. What really worries me is how many other pools is Taisho Corp contracted to keep "safe"? If they cut corners here, what else are they doing? Being a bit stingy on the chlorine? Not cleaning the pools?
warnerbro
They're not able to say how many lifeguards were on duty because the answer to that question will prove them negligent.
ExportExpert
So who's head is gonna roll for this then? No ones as usual as they will all pass the buck and the cops will suck their teeth and go musukashi ne and walk away.
Someone needs to be held accountable for this!
Jimny1216
No one is able to say how many lifeguards were on duty? There are no time cards, no work schedule records, no pay stubs. What they are all volunteer, they work for free? None of these but plenty of BS. Can anyone tell me how many Japanese lifeguards are actually CPR certified, and do they have to be re-certified each year?
Elbuda Mexicano
Osaka is a joke! And a bad joke at that! Rip 7 year old boy run by stingy fools down there stupid stupid Osaka