PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A toddler was airlifted to a hospital and remains in critical condition after being found submerged in a Port St. Lucie pool.
The Port St. Lucie Police Department said that officers responded to the 3200 block of SW Crumpacker Street following a call regarding a drowning involving a 20-month-old child on Thursday, around 9 p.m.
According to police, their preliminary investigations suggest that a 19-year-old family member opened the sliding glass door to let the family dogs outside, accidentally leaving it slightly ajar.
The report states that the young girl then exited the house unnoticed and was later found submerged in an above-ground swimming pool in the backyard.
Police said that the child’s father discovered her and immediately alerted her mother, who began performing CPR while calling for help.
A toddler was airlifted to a hospital and remains in critical condition after being found submerged in a Port St. Lucie pool. (WPEC)
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When officers arrived, they reported finding the mother actively trying to save her child. A neighbor, hearing the cries for assistance, called 911 and rushed over to help the family until emergency personnel arrived.
The child was transported to Tradition Medical Center, where she was stabilized before being airlifted to Nemours Children’s Hospital. Officials say that she remains in critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to look into the timeline of events leading up to the incident.
Prevention is key
May is Water Safety Month. The American Red Cross, the Florida Department of Health and other Florida safety and water-safety organizations recommend the following guidance to prevent accidental drownings.
Florida continues to lead the nation in child drowning deaths, and South Florida remains one of the state’s highest-risk regions for accidental drownings involving young children.
According to the Florida Department of Health, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for Florida children ages 1 to 4. State data shows Florida recorded:
99 child drowning deaths in 202193 in 202297 in 2023*
*Most recent data available
Palm Beach County alone recorded 200 accidental drowning deaths between 2020 and 2023 across all age groups, according to the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County. In 2023, six children drowned in Palm Beach County, with victims ranging from toddlers to young children.
Officials say most child drownings happen quickly, silently and close to home — often in backyard pools, canals or retention ponds.
The American Red Cross and Florida health officials stress that drowning rarely looks dramatic:
Most victims do not splash or yell for helpDrowning can happen in less than a minuteIt can happen in only a few inches of water
Safety experts say preventing drownings requires “layers of protection,” rather than relying on a single safety measure.
Drowning prevention tips
Active supervision
Keep children within arm’s reach near waterAssign a designated “Water Watcher”Avoid distractions like phones, reading or alcoholClearly rotate supervision duties between adultsNever assume someone else is watching the child
The Red Cross emphasizes: “Don’t just swim — watch.”
Pool safety
Install four-sided fencing at least 4 feet highUse self-closing, self-latching gatesAdd door and pool alarmsRemove toys from pools when not in useKeep pool covers secured
Swim lessons
Enroll children in formal swim lessons earlyTeach water competency and floating skillsRemember swim lessons reduce risk but do not make children “drown-proof”
Life jackets and flotation
Use Coast Guard-approved life jacketsWear life jackets in open water and while boatingDo not rely on floaties or inflatable toys for safety
CPR and emergency preparation
Parents and caregivers should learn CPRKeep rescue equipment nearbyCall 911 immediately in emergenciesStart CPR as soon as possible if needed
Officials note that bystanders are often the first rescuers before emergency crews arrive.
“Reach or throw, don’t go”
Rescuers are urged to:
Reach with a pole or objectThrow a flotation deviceAvoid jumping into dangerous water unless trained
Open water safety
Never swim aloneSwim where lifeguards are present when possibleWatch for rip currents, changing weather and deep waterNever dive into unfamiliar water
Special concerns involving autism
Florida agencies say children with autism face especially high drowning risks:
Nearly 60% of Florida drownings involving children age 5 and older since 2021 involved autistic or possibly autistic childrenWandering behavior near water significantly increases risk
Officials encourage additional supervision, adaptive swim lessons and individualized water-safety plans for children with developmental disabilities.
Key takeaways
Safety officials say no single prevention method is enough. The best protection combines:
constant supervisionbarriers and alarmsswim lessonslife jacketsCPR trainingemergency preparedness
Experts also stress that most drownings are preventable with proper supervision and layered safety precautions.