Medford boy battles for his life after near drowning - May 4, 2005

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-05-07

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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, May 7, 2005   Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery  | Contact Us       SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Health   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Real Estate Guide   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley     SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad  TOP JOBS   EXTRA   Ashland News   NIE   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   Volunteer   Moving here?  eSouthernOregon   CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend May 4, 2005 Medford boy battles for his life after near drowning By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized Tuesday with serious injuries after nearly drowning in a backyard swimming pool at his north Medford home. The boy was initially taken by ambulance to Rogue Valley Medical Center in Medford, and later flown to a Portland-area hospital for further treatment, police said. A woman at a home in the 500 block of Midway Road called police at 2:35 p.m. after finding the toddler in the above-ground pool, unconscious and not breathing, Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. Medics responded to the house along with Medford police and firefighters. The boy was given CPR at the scene, Medford police Lt. Tim George said. Police detectives and officials from the state Department of Human Services are investigating the incident. Advertisement "The child was unattended when he got into the pool," George said, adding that police believe the near-drowning "was an accidental situation." Several adults were at the house at the time. Police do not know how long the boy was in the pool before he was found. Investigators are trying to piece together the facts of the case to determine how exactly the child climbed into the above-ground pool, which is about three feet high. "Any way you slice it, this type of case is tough for all parties involved," George said. "Hopefully, this case has a happy ending." Last September, 2-year-old Steven Horvath died after falling into a partially drained pool at the Sams Valley home of his mother’s boyfriend. The boy’s mother, Crystal Ann DeLap, 25, of Central Point, and her boyfriend, Steven John Hunt, 52, have both pleaded not guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court to felony manslaughter and child neglect charges in connection with the death. Prosecutors allege DeLap and Hunt were negligent when they allowed the boy and his 4-year-old brother to play outside near the above-ground pool while unsupervised. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following safety measures for parents who have small children and a swimming pool: Never leave children alone while in or near a pool, even for a moment. Put up a fence to separate a home from a pool, with gates that self-latch higher than children can reach. Keep rescue equipment, including life preservers and a telephone, by the pool. Learn CPR and be able to rescue a child if needed. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home  | Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives  |  Site Map  | Community  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Mesothelioma Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Payday Loans Advertisement s