Temecula Toddler Drowns in Hot Tub
A two-year-old boy who drowned in his family's backyard Jacuzzi Saturday has been identified by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department as Anthony Mares. Authorities responded to a call on April 10th at a home on Romance Place in Temecula where the little boy had made his way into the backyard unsupervised and fell into the in-ground Jacuzzi. Officers began CPR but the child was not responsive. He was taken to Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta where he died.
Sheriff's officials did not disclose until Wednesday, April 14th that a drowning had occurred. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Based upon reports in the Press Enterprise, it was not clear how long the child was in the water before he was discovered, but authorities believed it was only a matter of minutes.
Accidental Drowning and Near-Drowning Statistics
An estimated 300 toddlers die in accidental drownings every year, and several thousand children are treated for near-drowning injuries in hospital emergency rooms. As many as 20 percent of near-drowning survivors suffer permanent disability as a result of their injuries. According to statistics, most children who drown in swimming pools are missing less than five minutes.
