7 Years Old Daughter Broke Her Tooth in the Park District Swiming Pool

Call Dr. Karsten at Kids First Pediatric Dentistry. He will know EXACTLY what to do. He is absolutely THE BEST around. Never trust a physician with dental information. They have no idea what they are doing in the mouth. Dental problem...see a dentist. Good Luck.

I don't think there is anything you can - or should - do. The life guards are there for protection but they CANNOT

Unfortunately it looks like this is all on you. Most Park districts will post that children should be fully supervised by an adult usually under the age of 16, that the life guards are there to save life and try to get all in pool area to respect rules, but parents are there to enforce their childrens behavior.

The Emergency room visit, most physicians in this specialty have a wide scope of practice to prevent death and prevent further injury until they can get to a specialist. A shot for numbing medication put in by an ER physician hurts worse than placing the tooth. They probably refered you to go follow up with your dentist right? They did what they could and referred you, so you can't sue them.

You are looking for someone to make right more than likely in a monitary way what happened to your child. If more people would just get the situation back in line themselves and go on, less time, and money would be spent and I'm sure your child would just like to get things fixed as best as possible and get on with her kid life.

Please don't be upset about my response as I know you will be. I'm a straight shooter and if someone else is at fault I would say go after them and make them pay, but in this case, it was an unfortunate event in your babies life.

In my experience, ER doctors don't have the greatest bedside manner, especially with children. I'm sure there are plenty who do, but I haven't met one yet. I doubt you have much recourse with the hospital and/or ER doctor, although you could consult with an attorney to see, but you should definitely let that hospital know how unhappy you are, and be specific with your complaint.
As for the lifeguard, I don't think you can put much blame on him or her - lifeguards are there to enforce the rules of the pool and ensure safety, but you cannot expect a lifeguard to catch all infractions by all kids, and you definitely couldn't expect the lifeguard to physically stop your daughter from having the accident she had. I doubt that a lifeguard could have moved that quickly even if they saw what your daughter was doing. If you put the pool and the lifeguard on the defensive, they may very well say "Well, where were YOU?" (or another supervising adult?). Sorry, but I don't think you can put the accident on the lifeguard.

Sounds to me like you're looking for a reason to sue the Park District. Unfortunately, it was your daughter who was using the slide the wrong way so I don't think you'd have much of a case there. Be glad your daughter didn't get more serious injuries.

I am really sorry about what happened to your daughter, but like you said she was breaking a rule and generally that's why they have the rules and who was suppose to be watching your seven year old daughter? The life guards are there to save lives in the water...just saying I think this is on you all.

S.,
If your daughter's mouth still hurts, followup with your dentist to make sure that her mouth is healing correctly. The dentist is your expert on what's happening with her teeth and can also look for any signs of infection. In this case I would not want to wait for the next dental checkup for a followup but would ask for an earlier appointment with your dentist.
As a parent, I would first focus on making sure my child gets the right medical/dental care to get well.
As things are on the mend, then I would ask to speak to whoever is in charge of the pool at your park district to ask about how they promote safety for participants at your pool. If you choose to return to this pool, I'd take the time to explain to your daughter the rules for using the slide etc and try to visit when it is not crowded so she can go and have a good time and see that it is possible to be safe and have fun at the pool.

S..First Iam so sorry your daughter went thru so much pain!..If u where already at the dentist, I dont think there is anything else to be done...Im even suprised that the Dr at the ER did anything. Usually they don't so you got lucky by that one. Hopefully either the Dr or the dentist gave her meds to keep her from getting an infection. Good Luck to your daughter and I hope she feels better soon.

That sounds like a lot for a 7 year old to go through and as a Mommy, it's hard to watch your kids go through things. That being said, kids have accidents and kids will break things like teeth, bones, etc. It's part of life. Nobody is to blame. Your daughter found out that trying to go up a slippery water slide doesn't work. I promise you she won't do that again. The life guards are there to keep people from drowning. We have to train our kids to follow rules and if you don't - you will suffer the consequences. The rules are there to keep everyone safe.
I'm sure your insurance will cover the medical costs and dental costs. As for cosmetics of the broken tooth. When she is older they can look at an implant or a veneer. The field of cosmetic dentistry has grown so much and procedures have become very affordable. Dr. Silvia Guerrero on Peterson in Chicago is EXCELLENT and is great with kids if you want a consultation. If you do not have medical insurance for your daughter I highly recommend checking out the State of Illinois All Kids program. They have a variety of plans for families. Many families think they do not qualify but they do - the income guidelines are very generous. All Kids includes dental too! Hospitals and dentists are always willing to work out payment plans if you ask. A seven year old knows right from wrong and knows that you are supposed to go down a slide and not up. I would just chalk this up as a bad day and move on. I promise you, there will be other mishaps and accidents along the way. It's part of being a kid and part of being a Mom.

Wow, what pool was this? CRC? We were just there. Sorry I don't know much about teeth, but the slide does sound dangerous.

As others have stated, we are sorry for what happened to your daughter - it was an unfortunate accident.

But from what you have written, it sounds like you are blaming the lifeguards for not watching your child. As you stated, your daughter was going up the wrong way - (1.) she is old enough to know better and, (2.) you do have to realize that the lifeguards cannot be sitting by watching an individual person the whole time. Lifeguards are there for everyone. They are not there on a one on one basis. And from what you stated, there were more than one person there at the pool which the lifeguards also have to take into consideration.

And, like all accidents, it probably happened quickly.

If you were there or your husband, then you are responsible for your own child. You do not bring them to a pool and expect the lifeguards to be babysitters because that is not what they are there for. If you were not there supervising them, then maybe you should have been so you could have taken the corrective action when it was being done - basically, telling your daughter than is not appropriate to climb up a slide and if she does it again, she will not be allowed to use it.

At a playground, if your child is playing on a slide wrongly, it is your duty/responsibility to tell them not to go up the wrong way - to use the stairs. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to tell them that there are consequences from their not using it properly - i.e. falling/getting hurt. If they continue doing it, then that is something you should be addressing with your child.

There are far too many people out there suing others because of their own neglect and failure to be responsible for their own actions and that includes the action of our children. Accidents happen. It’s a hard lesson for your daughter to have to learn but one that obviously she will remember and so will her siblings.

Hopefully, everyone learns from their own mistakes. I'm sure you have in the past, and so have I which is why I tell my children that the stove/oven is hot and it hurts; that you don't run with things in your mouth, you can fall and get hurt; that scissors are not toys, they can cut and you will hurt and bleed; etc. etc.

Are you asking who should pay for this??
Unless you hire an attorney you probably will not get anything for the park district. Did you sign a wavier when you paid for her to go swimming? If you did you agreed that you would not hold the park district responsible for anything that may happen to your child.
I know you said what was the life guarding doing? The park district will say what was your daughter doing going up the slide the wrong way.
Call the park district and find out if they will cover this. You may be lucky and they will cover it. If they say no you can always hire a lawyer and sue the park district for the money but it may cost you more in legal fees than just paying the doctor/dentist. They emergency room might be covered under you medical insurance because they chose to treat her instead of sending right to a dentist.
Good Luck... I hope you can collect.

S.,

I am not sure what your question is? Are you looking for monetary compensation? Are you looking to sue? Are you looking for a good pediatric dentist? Or are you simply upset?

I agree with the other moms - it seems to me that your daughter did this to herself through her poor decision to go up the slide the wrong way. You don't mention what adult was supervising your daughter at the time? It sounds like this was a very hard lesson learned by your daughter.

I hope that you do have a good pediatric dentist. They can help create a permanent "fake" tooth to replace the lost one as well as repair the broken tooth with a crown or the like.

I agree that the lifeguards and ER doc in an ideal situation should have handled things differently. The lifeguards should have stopped her, but as others stated they can't stay on top of everyone at every moment. I think parents are the first supervisors. Also the ER docs do what they can, but do sometimes forget how hard it is to be little and scared.

I hope she comes through this ok.

I am sorry that your daughter broke her teeth. Also, being a Mom and seeing how kids play at playgrounds, etc. They are always trying to go up the slides the wrong way. I am sure that your daughter probably has gone up slides the wrong way before, except this time she got hurt.

The only one to blame is your daughter. The life guard has to keep his/her eyes on every one in the pool. Making sure kids aren't horseplaying around. Next time get in the pool with your daughter or watch her from the sidelines.

What should I do now...?
...ummmm, maybe start supervising your daughter (and other children, if you have them), so that this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

Hi S.
I'm so very sorry for what happen to your Daughter, I can only imagine the pain for her. However she is 7 and should know the rules, if she does not know the rules then you as her parent are suppose to teach her not the lifeguards, it's interesting to me that you wonder what the life guard was doing when your Daughter was not following the rules, what were you doing?
It's unfortunate people blame others for mistakes, accidents. You as the parent are the one in charge of your child at all times. I can't tell you how many times I'm at the park with my 5 year old Daughter and kids go up the slide the wrong way, she will even tell them if they are in her way excuse me your going up the slide the wrong way. Parents need to teach their children properly not life guards, nannies etc.
I hope the dentist was able to fix your Daughters teeth. What a hard lesson for your Daughter!

Are you looking ofr advice n if you should sue the Park District or not? That is a very personal choice. I think that, kids get hurt and the Park was not neglagent. You say she was using the pool incorrectly. If she is old enough to know better, then she was in the wrong. If she was to young to know better, then it is your job to watch her, not the life gaurds. They are there to help and keep the kids from drowning. She was not in danger she was using the slide wrong.

If youare asking did the 1st doctor do something wrong, I don't know. Be greatful they could put her tooth back and that she is well. It hurt at the time nad we never want our babies to hurt, but it seems she is well now.

Happy Day