A 2‑year‑old boy in Jastrzębie‑Zdrój was rescued from a backyard pool after possibly being submerged up to 15 minutes; clinicians report his condition is severe but stable.
Child’s Critical Condition: Hypothermia and Circulation Arrest
Dr. Andrzej Bulandra, coordinator of the Trauma Center and pediatric surgeon at the Silesian Children’s Health Center in Katowice, told PAP that the boy’s condition is severe, stating that deep hypothermia or circulation arrest was observed and effective resuscitation was performed. The child was found with a core body temperature of 25°C.
Possible 15‑Minute Submersion
The doctor also noted that the child may have been underwater for as long as 15 minutes, according to reports from the scene. When the boy was brought to the hospital, he required multidisciplinary care from the intensive care unit, cardiac surgery, and pediatric surgery teams.
Emergency Response Team Actions
Thanks to the swift rescue efforts, the boy’s condition was stabilized. He is currently in the ICU with a severe but stable condition. The doctor highlighted that, despite the danger, the low temperature could have increased survival chances because hypothermia lowers cerebral metabolism, thereby reducing the risk of severe neurological injury.
Location and Situation of the Incident
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, 1 November, around 2 p.m. According to “Fakt” reports, a two‑year‑old fell into a backyard pool that was only covered by a tarp. The father, who was supposed to supervise the child, lost sight of him and found him in the water. He attempted resuscitation before police took over.
Medical Explanation of Survival Chances
The medical explanation is that hypothermia can protect the brain by decreasing metabolic demand, thereby potentially mitigating the extent of hypoxic injury.
