A fun summer afternoon turned terrifying when first responders rushed to the scene of a swimming pool accident involving a toddler in distress.
Just after 6:30 pm, a frantic 911 call came in from a home in Wheelersburg reporting a possible drowning. Moments later, the caller called back with devastating news — the young child was no longer breathing, though a nurse on the scene had begun emergency aid.
🚑 Porter EMS raced to the Porter Township Fire Station, where medics continued CPR and attempted resuscitation. The child, described as unresponsive, was immediately rushed to Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) with deputies splitting up to assist both at the scene and the hospital.
📊 Pool Accidents: A Deadly Reality
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- Drowning is the #1 cause of unintentional death for children ages 1–4.
- Nearly 400 children drown annually in pools and spas nationwide.
- Most incidents happen during a lapse in adult supervision — and often in backyard pools.
🛟 Safety Tips for Summer Swimming:
- Always designate a “Water Watcher” — a responsible adult whose only job is to supervise swimmers.
- Install proper barriers like pool fencing with self-latching gates.
- Learn CPR — immediate response can mean the difference between life and death.
- Remove toys from the pool area to prevent children from being tempted near the water.
- Use pool alarms and keep rescue equipment nearby.