At approximately 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, June 8 at Memorial Family Aquatic Center, lifeguard staff noticed a young child floating face down in three feet of water near the water slides at the south end of the pool. Lifeguard staff removed the unresponsive child from the pool and initiated on-site emergency procedures in addition to notifying 9-1-1. After a series of approximately four chest compressions, what appeared to be food was dislodged from the victim's throat and he began breathing. The guard staff administered oxygen through a re-breather until the Fire Department arrived on the scene to assist. The child was transported to Capital Region
Medical Center for examination and observation.
Indications are that the two-year-old child and mother had become separated from one another at the concession area at the north end of the pool. The child wandered to the south end of the pool where he was apparently choking on food and fell into the pool which initiated rescue procedures.
"Our staff is well trained to handle these potential life and death situations and responded to the emergency as trained," said Bill Lockwood, director of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Department. "Such an incident is a very highly charged emotional situation for patrons and staff. The rescue is under review to determine if any improvements in protocol and procedures would be beneficial."
Jefferson City Parks and Recreation hires over 75 lifeguards who are trained and certified under the Starguard Lifeguard Training Program. Jefferson City's two pools serve 65,000 to
75,000 patrons annually.