Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A toddler found unconscious and not breathing in a swimming pool at a Centralia home was revived by his father and rushed to the hospital this afternoon.
Aid called at 4:50 p.m. to the 600 block of G Street learned the dad discovered the 2-year-old boy and pulled him from the water. The child had no pulse and the dad started CPR, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
A paramedic unit from the Pearl Street station was the first unit on the scene and arrived in just under a minute and a half, according to Capt. Scott Weinert.
The boy was conscious and breathing but crying when they got there, Weinert said. Medics performed advanced life support measures to ensure the toddler continued to breathe and remained stable, he said.
It happened in a backyard built-in swimming pool, he said.
“We’re really happy he’s in stable condition and hopefully he continues to improve,” Weinert said.
When someone stops breathing for whatever reason, immediate and early intervention through CPR is key, according to Weinert.
“It’s important, that’s why it’s taught, because it can make a difference,” Weinert said.
But a traumatic event such as a near drowning could lead to a variety of physical issues or complications that still need to be evaluated by doctors and possibly treated, according to Paramedic Jade Gross.
The child was transported to Providence Centralia Hospital and then transferred to Seattle Children’s Hospital for observation.
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between the ages of 1 and 4 and it’s the third leading cause of death among children, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
The department took the opportunity to remind adults to be mindful of the risks and familiarize themselves with water safety tips for little ones. Riverside recommends a resource with numerous tips called Safe Kids Worldwide [1].