Summer camps’ hidden danger
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - As summer vacation approaches, parents Olga and Travone Mister are raising concerns about camp safety following the drowning of their 6-year-old son, TJ, at a camp run by St. Louis County. The couple is advocating for stricter regulations, claiming current measures fall short and may put other children at risk.
First Alert 4 Investigates has been following the case for years and uncovering what the Mister family says is a gap in safety.
TJ drowned in July 2022 at an unlicensed county-run summer camp. Missouri does not regulate camps, meaning they are not licensed such as other childcare facilities like daycares. The way things stand, there is no requirement for camps to run background checks on employees or have staff with medical training. Learn more
On the day of TJ’s death, St. Louis County opened the Kennedy Recreation Center pool, knowing it did not have enough lifeguards to safely monitor the children. Almost immediately upon entering the pool TJ struggled to breathe and stay above water. He struggled for more than four minutes. Not a single camp counselor or lifeguard noticed as TJ struggled and drowned. TJ’s death was both tragic and completely unnecessary and resulted from the reckless choices of the Kennedy Recreation Center. Learn more
In honor of TJ Mister TJs story teamed up with ATR (Advanced Training and Rehab) company to raise over 1000 stuffed animals. Donations were made to four Saint Louis hospitals including Rankin Jordan , Mercy, Barnes Children’s and Cardinal Glennon foundation. Learn more
Affton family honors child who drowned in summer camp by raising awareness for other families
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NEWS UPDATE. Jan 31, 2023
Families connect through tragedy to change Missouri laws
by: Chris Hayes
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The family of a child who drowned at summer camp joined forces with families whose relatives died in a work zone crash. They confronted politicians to save others from their pain. They confronted legislators with the help of Missouri Representative Michael Burton.
We’ve gotten really great response from a lot of Republican representatives,” Michael Burton said. “I believe, today, we actually found a Republican representative to file T.J.’s Law when it’s complete. And so it will be a bipartisan bill, and I’m really excited about that.”
