Sedgwick County deputy saves baby after near-drowning

April 28, 2011|By Melody Pettit | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.) — It was just a routine call for Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy Jason Rexroat but he ended up saving a baby's life.

"When we got there the baby wasn't breathing and he was limp," said Rexroat.

Officials responded to a house Wednesday night to a possible drowning.

They say an 11-month-old and a three-year-old were bathing in the bathtub when the mom briefly left them alone.

"She left for a moment and the baby was submerged in water," Rexroat said.

When Rexroat arrived he gave the baby CPR.

"I was just focused on trying to get the baby breathing again," Rexroat said.

The infant started to breathe and emergency crews took him to the hospital.

A scary situation but one Safe Kids officials say can be a lesson to parents.

"It only takes a fraction of a second for something to happen," said Ronda Lusk, the Wichita Safe Kids coordinator.

Lusk says it's an important lesson to learn and especially with warmer weather approaching, parents need to be on guard.

"Make sure to keep them within arms reach at all times and don't get distracted," Lusk said.

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The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office has ruled a near-drowning incident an accident. The Sheriff's Office says the 11-month-old's mother called 911 saying he'd possibly drowned.

Emergency crews found the boy and gave him CPR then rushed him to the hospital.

The child is expected to be okay.

The Exploited and Missing Child Unit was involved in the investigation and has determined that the incident was accidental.

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An Oaklawn baby is expected to be released from the hospital after nearly drowning in the bath tub.

A Sedgwick County deputy says it's looking like an accident.

It happened around 10:15 Wednesday night in the 4400 block of South Cedardale.

Two young brothers were playing in the bathtub when a parent left the room. After a few minutes, a Sedgwick County Sheriff deputy says the parent came back to find a one-year-old boy floating in the tub.

Paramedics took him to a Wichita hospital in critical condition.

The incident remains under investigation.

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