Bradenton Girl Critical After Falling In Swimming Pool

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, drowning is a leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4.  Image credit: CDC

BRADENTON, Florida - A 5-year-old girl is in critical condition after nearly drowning in a swimming pool in on Sunday in Manatee County, Florida.

According to the Bradenton Police Department, officers responded to a home in the 2500 block of 11th Avenue E at approximately 4:40 p.m. after the girl was discovered unresponsive in the pool by a family member. 

Police say that it appears the child wandered out of the home and fell into the pool. 

The home security system alerted the homeowner a door had opened, prompting the family member to search for the child. 

The family member and a neighbor performed CPR until EMS arrived. Manatee County EMS revived the child, who was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida where she remains in critical condition. 

Florida loses more children under age five to drowning than any other state, according to the Florida Department of Health. 

Annually in Florida, enough children to fill three to four preschool classrooms drown and do not live to see their fifth birthday.

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control, drowning is a leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 4. 

For toddlers (children ages 1 to 4 years), swimming pools pose the greatest risk of submersion injury.

Florida has the highest unintentional drowning rate in the nation for the 1–4 year old age group with a drowning rate of 7.54 per 100,000 population.