A child was found unresponsive in a Delray Beach pool on Wednesday afternoon, according to local authorities. Delray Beach police are investigating the situation after the 5-year-old boy, who has autism, was discovered in a a residential pool on Southeast Seventh Avenue.
The incident, which occurred approximately at 2:30 p.m., promptly triggered a response from both the police and fire rescue units. As reported by WPTV, responding officials said the boy was airlifted to the hospital. The current state of the child has not been disclosed, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hovering over this tragic event.
The family informed the police that the child, who was diagnosed with autism, had managed to slip out of the nearby house unnoticed. Ted White, Public Safety Information Officer, mentioned to CBS12 News that workers in the vicinity found the boy, pulled him out of the water, and initiated CPR before authorities arrived.
Touching on the dangers that bodies of water pose to children, especially those with cognitive conditions, Candi Spitz, Public Relations Coordinator for Project Lifesaver International, lamented the frequency of such incidents. “I’m a parent with twins who have autism. The first thing that goes through my head when I hear a child is missing is to check the water behind the house," Spitz told CBS12 News.
Amidst this incident, local advocates and nonprofits are stepping up to remind and educate parents about preventative measures. Devices such as tracking bracelets offered by Project Lifesaver could be lifesaving by locating those who wander. “Every child has a unique number. It’s a frequency number. It sends out a series of chirps that they can dial into," Spitz explained about the technology, emphasizing its 100% success rate, as per CBS12 News. Moreover, drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old, a sobering statistic provided by the CDC that underscores the need for constant vigilance near water, especially as summer draws near.
