Deadly Summer Camp Dangers

Lack Of Oversight Cited; Parents Urged To Do Thorough Checking Themselves

(CBS)  Parents, beware: A complete lack of federal oversight of summer camps and what at best is a patchwork quilt of state and local oversight leave your kids more vulnerable than you probably think when you entrust them to the care of such camps. And those in the know urge that you do a comprehensive check yourself of camp facilities, policies and other pertinent matters before signing your kids up.

On The Early Show Wednesday, consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen told the story of two parents whose four-year-old son was killed in his very first day at what was billed as a top-shelf camp in their hometown of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Anat Gottesman says her son "was a very happy, cheerful boy. ... He was full of life."

In the summer of 2005, Yoni Gottesman's parents took him to summer camp. It was supposed to be a fun and exciting experience.

"I remember when I left him in the morning," Anat recalled, "he barely said goodbye. He said, 'Mommy, I'm so happy. Bye-bye. See you later." '

But that was the last time Anat would see her son alive.

Her husband, Oded Gottesman, says, "All of a sudden I get a phone call, asking me if I'm Yoni's father. And I said, 'Yes.' She asked me to come to the club, because he had some accident."

Yoni had drowned.

It was captured on a surveillance video that shows a camp counselor dunking Yoni over and over again in the water, a dozen times. Next, Yoni struggles to swim to the edge of the pool, as the counselor turns his back to play with other children. Finally, Yoni is floating face-down in the pool. Even with two lifeguards on duty and counselors in the water, it took eight minutes before anyone noticed.

Yoni died an hour later at a hospital.

"We just couldn't understand how, you know, that could have happened," Oded says. "Everything we did was everything normal parents would do."

The Gottesmans would later learn the Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club had been operating its kids' camp without a license.

"We just couldn't believe it," Oded says. "At the time, we were thinking we were sending him to the best place. They advertise themselves as the best place, safest place. They held themselves as a very professional and exclusive club."

But, Koeppen points out, there are no federal regulations when it comes to camps. Rules vary greatly from state-to-state. Six states don't require camps to be licensed at all. Twenty-eight states don't require criminal background checks of camp employees. And, according to the American Camp Association, only 25 percent of camps in the United States are accredited, meaning they meet the 300 health and safety standards set by the association.

"I think," says Dr. Edward Walton, a pediatrician, "the word 'camp' is sometimes used too lightly."

[lore71670]

What IDIOT! Would dunk any child much less a 4 year old?!!? This was not a simple case that the boy couldn't hadle his self and a simple drowning, The counsler dunked him various times and left him to strugle to get to saftey, he had to of known the child was screaming in fear anyone whom has experienced the fear of being dunked knows what I am talking about!! Why is he not behind bars!!!!! Would I be set free if I did this to my child or anyone else's!??! No,so why is he still waling around? As for the resst of the facility it should be shut down and every camp should have strick regulations EVERYWHERE!!!

[MothersRight09]

Anger is normal. I can't imagine what I would do if this happened to my child! I agree that you should seek criminal charges for negligence in the matter of your child's death. I offer and extend my deepest sympathies and prayers for you and your family.

[cbruckman2009]

I watched this report this morning in utter awe. My first problem is with the parents. I as a parent of a 4 year old boy would never take him and drop him off at a camp with a swimming pool. Yes I do take him to daycare because both my wife and I work and yes something could happen to him at day care. But they don't have a swimming pool. The camp counselor and the whole staff at the pool that day should have been criminally charged. I think there was negligence on the part of all parties and a 16 million dollar law suit wil not bring that precious little boy back. PARENTS USE COMMON SENSE!!!

[ej5l]

I am amazed to see that a parent suggested here that a 4 year old should not go to camp (re BrettC39). By that rational we should not have driving laws and your solution would be not to drive a car. We can lift all laws and simply stop walking the street, perhaps just stay in a protected bubble. Home schooling and beyond?
For the rest of us in the normal world, kids can and should go to camps and should have safe time there. Simple regulations and protective laws will do. This tragic case was totally preventable. Neglect and more neglect is what led to the death of an innocent kid and many more may be harmed if we do stop the neglect (with laws and regulations). If you take kids under your custody, your pool should be safe, your staff should be highly trained in kids safety, emergency provisions should be readily available by law and your compliance would be measured by required and detailed accreditation. Nothing of that was available in the Santa Barbara club. This should be changed.

[SBParent]

Yoni was aggressively dunked by a Camp counselor, he did not die because of lack of swimming ability!
The lifeguards were not watching the children, Yoni was struggling and floating for 8:30 minutes only 6 feet in front of the lifeguard Michael Bowen who did not save him!
The lifeguard Michael Bowen who gave Yoni CPR was not certified for Child CPR and did not give Yoni effective CPR, Yoni had no chance with this guy Michael Bowen!
The aquatic director was not even trained for child CPR...
Nobody at Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club was disciplined after Yoni's death, and everyone got bonuses in 2005...
The camp counselors and the lifeguards were untrained by management and owners who put profit above our children's safety!
http://www.YoniGottesman.com

[BrettC39]

It is a sad and tragic story, however there are some other issues I see in the footage. First of all I have a pool in my yard and my 5 year old does not get in the pool without a life jacket unless I am in the pool with him. I would never give anyone permission for my 4 year old to swim without a jacket unless I am present.
Second if this camp has operated for 13 years and this is the first time we are hearing of an accident like this, how many kids attended this camp over the 13 year span and the odds are probably better of dying at home than at this camp. Yes maybe the counselor was excessive in dunking this kid and should not be a counselor again. But to prosecute the camp and the counselor who was spending time with kids because the parents did not tell them he was not a good swimmer or did not have time to spend with them and sent a four year old to camp is not the camps fault. I have three children every camp I have sent my children to requires the parents to fill out a form which asks specifically the childs swimming ability what did the parents say regarding this kids ability.

[SBParent]

Yoni's case must be prosecuted criminally!
Our children must be protected by authorities!
Yoni's life was taken by people who put profit above safety! They saved money by not having legal State licensing, no certified and up to date training of their employees, no Child-CPR training that could have saved Yoni's life!
The Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club's camp operated 13 years without license! They advertised in all newspapers, family magazines, and brochures. They lured parents to send their children to their deadly camp and endangered children for 13 years!
Criminal action should be taken agains the owners imediatelly!
The club owner Richard Berti made "contribution" to the local Sheriff!
The Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon who spent millions of $$$ on the Michael Jackson child abuse fiasco screwed up Yoni's case and failed to bring the camp owners & managers to justice! Our children must be protected by the Law!

[shlomibn]

such a sad story, i feel so bad for the parents.

[Quoi-Monsieur]

I understand this was a terrible accident. However, it was rare and isolated. Stories like this cause paranoia. How many more kids die in the outside world every day compared to summer camps? CBS just wants money: does CBS really realize how scary it makes our world appear?