DES MOINES – After the water death last night officials are stressing that parents keep their kids within arms reach and always make sure they have a life jacket on.
“Kids love the water and they get so excited, and i don’t think they always recognize the dangers,” said Sgt. Paul Parizek with the Des Moines police.
Shantyl Sibert and her 4-year-old grandson make frequent visits to the lake. She knows the risks and works to make sure he does too.
“When he’s in the water he knows he can’t go any deeper than his belly button. He always has to have his safety on and that’s pretty much the rules and I’m always watching him, I’m always facing him,” said Sibert.
“Why do you wear your life jacket? So I don’t drown,” said Shantyl’s grandson, Jaycion.
Along with the life jacket Shantyl urges him to stay within reach.
“Close enough I can jump up and snag him,” said Sibert.
This is important especially in public areas without lifeguards.
“Like a lot of the public beaches around central Iowa, it’s not like a pool, there’s no life guard there,” said Parizek.
And Jaycion knows this.
“What are the rules when you’re at the lake? No going that way, and there’s no life guard,” said Jaycion.
But, it doesn’t matter where you are because it can happen anywhere.
“I don’t think it matters if there’s a pool or if it is a public beach, when were talking infants toddlers and children, we need to make sure they are within arms reach so we can help them out,” said Parizek.
Shantyl said now more than ever, her eyes are glued to her grandson.
“A lot more, I’ll make sure I don’t take my eyes off of him,” said Sibert.
Offcials said this tragedy is just a reminder of how danger water activities can be.
