Child nearly drowns in Lake Tapps

A bystander who knew CPR is credited with saving a four-year old who nearly drowned in Lake Tapps Tuesday afternoon.

East Pierce Fire and Rescue crews were called to the Pierce County park on the north shore of Lake Tapps just after 2 p.m. According to witnesses, the boy was not breathing when his mother pulled him from the water. A bystander immediately started CPR with the assistance of the child’s mother. When the firefighters arrived, the boy was breathing and conscious. He was transported to Mary Bridge Hospital for evaluation.

Assistant Chief Ed Goodlet said that starting CPR in the precious minutes before the crews arrived most certainly saved the boy’s life. He added that the fire department believes so strongly in citizen CPR that it offers a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and basic first aid classes up to three times a month, free of charge to residents living within the East Pierce fire district, including Sumner, Bonney Lake, Lake Tapps, Edgewood, Wilkeson, and South Prairie. The cost for non-residents is $30 for either a CPR or First Aid class, or $45 for both. Goodlet said that those interested in taking the class can call the fire department at 253-863-1800 during regular business hours to register.

The fact that a citizen performed CPR on the boy is not a surprise to East Pierce Assistant Chief Russ McCallion. “Half of all patients who collapse in cardiac arrest in East Pierce receive citizen CPR – double or triple the rate of the rest of the country,” he said.

Last year, East Pierce taught CPR to nearly 850 citizens. In addition, more than 2,000 middle and high school students received CPR instruction at school from East Pierce firefighters as part of an annual student program. “Citizen CPR doubles the chance of survival for cardiac arrest victims,” McCallion said. “Learning CPR can make the difference between life and death.”

Drowning prevention is another major effort for the fire department. “Preventing a drowning can be as easy as wearing a life jacket,” said East Pierce Public Education Specialist Dina Sutherland. East Pierce offers free, Coast Guard-approved life jacket loaners at both North Lake Tapps and Allan Yorke parks and at the headquarters station. A valid driver’s license is required to receive a loaner jacket. New, discounted life jackets are also available for purchase at the fire station located at 18421 Old Buckley Highway, in Bonney Lake.

More information about CPR classes offered by East Pierce is available at www.eastpiercefire.org.