A 14-month-old boy was pulled from his family's Staten Island pool in cardiac arrest yesterday afternoon. WABC 7 reports that little Vincent Fougere " found by his parents floating in the pool wearing only his diaper." Luckily, the local firehouse was nearby and a neighbor, who heard the screaming parents, ran over there for help.
The neighbor, Ronald Hofstetter, told the Staten Island Advance that a young couple had moved into the home recently. And he said his dog tipped him off that something was wrong, "I went outside to stop him from barking, and I heard them yelling next door. Someone was on the phone, probably calling 911. I immediately ran for the Fire Department." He then led the firefighters to the house on Brehaut Avenue, in the Tompkinsville section.
Firefighters performed CPR until EMT arrived and Vincent was taken to Staten Island University Hospital, where he was in critical condition last night. According to City Room, the adults at the home estimated Vincent was in the pool for 30 seconds to a minute, but FDNY Lt. Hector Morisi said, "They did not mention how he got into the pool" and couldn't explain "if he walked in or stumbled in or crawled in."
Morisi told WCBS 2, "Keep an eye on your kids. It's summer, it's hot, I understand the pools, but you have to take safety first." Here are pool safety tips from the CPSC and learn where you can take CPR classes in the city.
