4 Children Nearly Drown in Incidents Over Weekend

Three children were in critical condition and on life-support systems at Children’s Hospital Monday after nearly drowning in unrelated incidents over the holiday weekend, a hospital spokesman said.

A fourth child, also a near-drowning victim, was released from the hospital Monday.

The string of accidents prompted Children’s Hospital to release a statement reminding parents and guardians of the dangers that can befall children during the spring and summer. Constant supervision of children when they are near water cannot be overemphasized, said Mark Morelli, hospital spokesman.

“A child can drown in less than two minutes,” Morelli said. “Parents should be sure to have a lockable fence or a barrier to their pool or spa, and be aware of neighborhood pools and spas as well.”

Parents are also encouraged to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to enroll children over 3 in swimming lessons, Morelli said.

About 4 a.m. Monday, an unidentified infant girl nearly drowned when the car in which she and her parents were traveling overturned into a water-filled ditch near Blythe, Morelli said. The little girl was taken by air to Children’s Hospital. She is in critical condition, he said.

On Sunday, Kevin Wood, a 2-year-old Valley Center boy, was taken to Children’s about 5:15 p.m. The toddler was apparently chasing a tennis ball when he fell into the family pool in the 29000 block of Miller Road, said Capt. Jim Linder of the Valley Center Fire Department.

Wood was pulled from the pool by his parents, who administered CPR, Linder said. The child was taken by paramedics to Sharp Memorial Hospital, then transferred by Life Flight to Children’s. He is in critical condition, Morelli said.

A third child, Sarah Hawatmeh, 2, was critically injured Saturday about 3:30 p.m. when she fell into a spa at her Chula Vista home, Morelli said.

Joseph Rosas, 2, of Vista was discharged from the hospital Monday, Morelli said. Rosas was transported by Life Flight Saturday after falling into a pool, he said.