ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. - A toddler was taken to the hospital Monday morning after a near drowning at a home in Royal Palm Beach.
At 10:37 a.m., Palm Beach County Fire Rescue said crews responded to reports of a near drowning in the Old Village Development of Royal Palm Beach.
First-arriving crews reported the toddler was already out of the water, said Capt. Albert Borroto. The boy was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Neighbors were too upset to talk on camera, but say the family has lived on the block for close to 10 years. They have two young boys. One is about 4-years-old, the other is just over 1-year-old. Neighbors also point out there is a pool behind the house.
Anna Stewart, manager of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm beach county says tragedies like this are a reminder for everyone this type of situation can happen to you.
"We really want adults to constantly be watching if they're out and about," Stewart said. "Children are really fast. You can look away one second the next thing you know they're gone. It can happen to you."
Stewart suggests:
- Swim lessons for children so they can learn to turn over and float.
- Installing alarms that sound when doors are opened and closed.
- Installing a pool fence that goes directly around the pool itself that locks.
For more information on water safety and free swim lessons in Palm Beach County click here.
http://www.pbcgov.com/drowningprevention/freelessons.htm
