On Wednesday, May 17, 2006 at 2:09 PM, one Company of Los Angeles Firefighters, one LAFD Rescue Ambulance and one EMS Battalion Captain responded to a Reported Drowning at 5148 Melvin Avenue in Tarzana.

Firefighters and Paramedics, responding to a 9-1-1 call from a babysitter, arrived quickly in the living room of a one-story single family home to find a 13-month old male unresponsive and almost imperceptibly breathing.

According to the clearly distraught adult female sitter, the child had slipped unwitnessed below the waterline in a bath tub, when she left him unattended for "no more than a minute".

As Firefighters cleared copious amounts of water and vomitus from the child's airway, they assisted his respirations and placed him immediately in an awaiting LAFD Ambulance.

A team of veteran Fire Department Paramedics offered supportive care, including oxygen to the child, who became increasingly conscious and required less breathing support during transportation to Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

His condition at the time was considered "serious".

Though seasonal safety advisories by the Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies have largely focused on swimming pool incidents and open water safety, the dangers facing infants, toddlers and children include bath tubs, play pools, fountains - and even buckets containing as little as one inch of water.

If we could offer but one message on water safety, it would be that nothing whatsoever can take the place of constant watchfulness and supervision by a competent adult.

Furthermore, please understand that children and others "Drown Without A Sound" and that "It Doesn't Take a Lack of Attention, Merely a Lapse In Attention" for a drowning tragedy to occur.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department