A 17-month-old boy has died after falling into a backyard pool in Deltona on Monday, according to authorities. His mother found him face down in the water as the family was getting ready to head to the beach and immediately started CPR while waiting for deputies and paramedics to arrive. The child was rushed to a hospital, where he remained for several days before being taken off life support on Thursday night.
In a release from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, reported by ClickOrlando, deputies said the boy was found in the backyard pool of a home in the 400 block of Leland Drive. The mother told investigators she believes her son slipped out through a sliding glass door that had been left open by accident and estimated that about three minutes had passed since she last saw him. Deputies said the scene appears to be an accidental drowning.
A String Of Recent Pool Tragedies In Central Florida
The Deltona case comes on the heels of several other recent drownings in Central Florida. Earlier this month, twin 5-year-old girls were pulled from a Kissimmee vacation-rental pool and found unresponsive, as reported by FOX 35. In a separate incident in May, a 20-month-old girl in Port St. Lucie died after being found submerged in a backyard pool, according to WPTV.
Deputies said the Deltona toddler was taken to a hospital as quickly as possible but, despite continued treatment, was removed from life support Thursday night. Volusia detectives say they do not suspect foul play. In their statement, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office extended its “heartfelt sympathies” to the child’s family, and ClickOrlando reported additional details on Friday.
What Experts Say About Preventing Drownings
Health experts stress that drownings often happen quickly and quietly, without the drama seen in movies, and urge families to rely on several layers of protection rather than a single safeguard. Those layers include four-sided pool fencing with self-closing gates, door and pool alarms, constant adult supervision, swim lessons for young children and CPR training for caregivers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics details these “layers of protection” in its technical report on drowning prevention, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that drowning remains a leading cause of unintentional injury death for young children. For more specifics, families can review guidance from the AAP and the CDC.
Where To Get Training And Help
Parents and caregivers looking to lower the risk around water can find swim lessons, lifeguard programs and pediatric CPR classes through community centers, the YMCA and other national providers. The American Red Cross offers both blended and in-person CPR and water-safety courses for adults and caregivers, which can help families build rescue skills and confidence in how to respond during an emergency. The American Red Cross website is one starting point for class listings and training options.
The Volusia Sheriff’s Office said detectives are continuing their review of the incident while the family and neighborhood grieve. Deputies have asked the community to respect the family’s privacy as investigators complete their routine inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the accidental drowning.
