New details emerge on 'near-drowning' incident at Hudson Valley pool
It happened at the end of June at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.
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It was a scary scene at a pool in Westchester County last month when a young boy nearly drowned.
It happened at the end of June at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.
"Completely waterlogged, no light in his eyes," says Valerie Kaplan.
Kaplan was teaching a private swim lesson when she saw a child floating face down nearby.
"Totally unresponsive," Kaplan tells News 12.
Kaplan knew what she needed to do.
"I was yelling at people to call 911, hopped out of the pool and immediately started doing chest compressions," Kaplan explains.
Thankfully, the boy made it.
"It was probably the most traumatic thing I've ever had to undergo. Valerie was such a champ, she saved that kid's life," says Carmen Barker.
Barker's daughter was the one getting that swim lesson from Kaplan when all this unfolded.
She says the pool was packed.
"There were so many people you couldn't tell who was who," says Barker.
Right after the incident, an inspection by the Westchester County Department of Health found several health hazards and violations there.
Some of the information collected during an inspection by the county showed that "at time of incident no counselors were in water providing supervision. Life guards were in midst of rotation. 3 life guards in vicinity of the main pool- no garment identifying camp lifeguards was worn."
The violations have since been corrected, according to a spokesperson with the county.
Officials with the Saw Mill Club sent the following statement to News 12:
"Saw Mill Club has been fully committed from day one to addressing and rectifying any and all violations noted in the report. We’ve taken proactive steps to go beyond basic compliance and strengthen the overall safety and supervision of our aquatics program.
Regarding the specific items outlined in the report:
Identification of Swimmers vs. Non-Swimmers:
We have added an additional lane line to visibly section off shallow, mid, and deep-water zones. This physical boundary allows guards to monitor swimmer behavior more effectively and quickly assess skill levels within designated areas.
Lifeguard Identification:
All of our lifeguards have now been issued standardized Genesis Health Club Lifeguard apparel, which clearly identifies them as certified staff while on duty.
Staffing Levels:
We have added two additional lifeguards to our active rotation, ensuring we meet and often exceed the recommended staffing levels for safe surveillance. This includes expanded coverage during high-use hours and a more frequent rotation and break schedule to prevent fatigue.
In addition to these steps, our lifeguard team has completed enhanced in-service training—beyond what is required—including drills in emergency response, surveillance, spinal management, and patron communication. We’ve also certified more staff than required in waterfront safety protocols to maintain the highest possible standard of supervision and care.
We have remained in full compliance with all Department of Health directives and are confident that our members will continue to enjoy a safe and enjoyable summer at Saw Mill Club."
