A lifeguard at Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center in Hartford is being praised as a hero after she rescued a 2-year-old boy from the water on Monday afternoon.
City Administrator Steve Volkert tells http://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com the incident happened around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon. He said the toddler was found floundering in about 2-feet of water.
Jessica of West Bend, a registered nurse from Froedtert, was on scene.
“The lifeguard saw the child was not moving and was floating face down. He was blue and flaccid and she jumped in grabbed him and I helped get the child out and started CPR right away,” she said.
Another nurse, Laurie Fochs, was also on scene and came to assist.
“The lifeguards are very young but they acted appropriately,” said Jessica. “I would have felt confident they knew what they were doing if it was my child. This is the first time I’ve seen any lifeguards act so fast. I would bring my kids back there any day. I just happened to be there.”
Jen Bloom was at the pool and said the scenario was scary and she was glad there was a positive outcome. “Everyone at the pool applauded the lifeguards, the woman, and the little boy,” said Bloom. “Parents had tears in their eyes as they held their own children and watched.”
CPR was performed on the boy for about 4 minutes and he started breathing and was responsive. EMTs arrived, put the boy on oxygen and took him to Aurora Hospital in Hartford as a precaution.
High praise was posted by many on the Washington County Insider Facebook page for the quick action of the lifeguards at the pool
Volkert said of the lifeguard, “We’re really proud of her, she did a great job as did the whole staff.”
Hartford’s new city pool and lazy river opened July 9. The incident with the child happened at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.
There are 14 lifeguards on staff and the pool and because of the heat, Volkert said, they are seeing over 800 people at the pool each day.
“Today’s incident shows how well our lifeguards and staff are trained,” said Volkert. “It’s one thing for a lifeguard to rescue a 10 or 12-year-old kid but it’s another thing when it’s an infant. They did a great job.”