BEDFORD — Local emergency personnel rushed to a Bedford residence Saturday evening following a harrowing emergency call reporting that a small child had nearly drowned.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:06 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, at a home located on Lori Lane, according to public safety dispatch logs.
Bedford Police Chief Terry Moore confirmed that a complainant contacted emergency dispatch, stating a small child had gone under the water. Fortunately, by the time first responders were dispatched to the address, the child had been pulled from the water and was reported to be both conscious and breathing.
An ambulance was requested at the scene to evaluate the child and provide any necessary medical treatment.
A Critical Warning for the Summer Months
With summer weather in full swing and families increasingly cooling off in residential pools, lakes, and rivers, Chief Terry Moore and regional public safety officials are urging parents and caregivers to remain hyper-vigilant.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for young children, and officials emphasize that it can happen in a matter of seconds and is often completely silent.
To ensure a safe summer for area youth, emergency officials recommend the following critical drowning safety tips:
- Maintain Constant Visual Supervision: Never take your eyes off a child near water, even for a moment. Designate a sober, responsible adult as a dedicated “Water Watcher” whose sole job is to monitor the pool without distractions like cell phones or socializing.
- Enforce Barriers to Water: Ensure that residential swimming pools are completely enclosed by a four-sided fence that is at least four feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. Keep toys out of the pool area when not in use, so children are not tempted to try to retrieve them.
- Learn CPR and Basic Water Rescue: Minutes matter during a submersion emergency. Parents, grandparents, and babysitters are strongly encouraged to take a certified CPR and first aid course. Knowing how to perform chest compressions and rescue breaths can save a life while an ambulance is en route.
- Avoid Air-Filled Inflatables for Safety: Do not rely on plastic “water wings,” inner tubes, or inflatable toys as life jackets. They are considered pool toys, not safety devices. If a child cannot swim, always utilize a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Talk to Kids About Water Rules: Teach children from a young age that they are never allowed to go near a pool, pond, or hot tub unless an adult is directly with them.
Local police and fire departments urge all residents to review their home pool safety measures immediately to prevent a seasonal tragedy.
