Child pulled from pool, hospitalized

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

A 15-month-old child was hospitalized after being pulled from the bottom of a backyard pool in Carpinteria, authorities said.
Emergency crews arrived at the home in the 1300 block of Linden Avenue, where family members met them curbside with the unconscious girl. Charlie Johnson, a spokesman for the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, said firefighters began advanced life support measures immediately.

“Initial information indicates that the child was last seen in the backyard out of the water on the pool deck with the other two children,” he said in a news release. “The mother had apparently gone into the house for a towel and upon returning the 15-month-old was missing and not in sight.”
After checking around the house and asking a man working at the home if he had seen the child, the mother checked the pool and spotted the child underwater, authorities said.
The worker jumped in and pulled the toddler from the water, Johnson said, and the mother reportedly started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The child was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and remained in the critical care unit, according to the latest update provided to Johnson. Calls to hospital officials yesterday afternoon were not immediately returned.
Johnson said sheriff’s deputies are still investigating the incident. He also offered a series of tips for parents regarding pool safety.
Children should never be left unsupervised near a pool and babysitters should be instructed about potential pool hazards. Johnson said flotation devices or inflatable toys should never be used as a substitute for adult supervision.
He also advised parents to keep rescue equipment in good condition and easily accessible near the pool.
“If you are taking your child to someone else’s home for a pool party, take time out to investigate what safety measures are in place and planned for during the party,” he said, “and if you’re not comfortable with what you see or hear, talk with the responsible adults to resolve any of your concerns or plan to stay and keep an eye on your child.”