Drowning Survivor

Published: 09/12/2019

On Monday, September 2, 2019 (Labor Day), The City of Riverside Fire Department and AMR responded to a reported drowning at an apartment complex in Mission Grove. The report was a two-year-old female that had been submerged for 3-4 minutes in a pool. CPR was initiated by the mother of the patient and assisted by bystanders. An RPD Officer responded to the scene arriving prior to the fire department and took over CPR from the patient’s mother. A Battalion Chief in the area of the incident also responded and performed CPR with the RPD Officer. Engine 11 and AMR arrived on scene and continued patient care with Advanced Life Support measures by paramedics and continued CPR. The patient was transported in critical condition to Riverside University Health System Hospital in Moreno Valley. Prior to arriving at the hospital, rescuers were able to get spontaneous respirations and a strong pulse back. The patient spent four days in the Riverside University Health System Hospital and made a full recovery. Since her discharge, she has returned to her normal self. She has no reported deficits and is living a happy normal life per her family. The patient celebrated her third birthday the day after her discharge from the hospital. The patient and her family were reunited with the crews that responded on September 2nd for the first time since being discharged home. The City of Riverside Fire Department would like to remind the community on the importance of learning CPR. Bystander CPR prior to the arrival of Fire and Police were critical to the successful outcome of this incident.