Police in Norfolk County are urging parents to be mindful after a two-year-old boy nearly drowned in a backyard swimming pool.
The Ontario Provincial Police said emergency crews responded to a residence on 2nd Concession ENR in Houghton after the toddler was found floating face down in the swimming pool by a family member.
The boy was immediately pulled from the water and CPR was performed before he was rushed to a local hospital. The toddler was resuscitated but his condition is currently unknown.
"We are urging all Ontarians to take personal responsibility for ensuring water safety for themselves and their children, which include basic safety practices such as learning to swim at an early age; wearing a lifejacket or a personal flotation device [PFD] while on a vessel or swimming," said Inspector Joseph Varga, the detachment commander for the Norfolk County OPP, in a news release. "Young children or non-swimmers should always wear a PFD while in or near the water in case they become in distress. This can make the difference between surviving, or not."
The OPP added that adult supervision is always required whenever children are engaging in an activity that puts them in situations that could become dangerous.
"Nothing can substitute for hands-on supervision and direction," the OPP said.
