Drowning
DrowningiStock

A boy of about 11 nearly drowned tonight (Tuesday) in a pool located in one of the kibbutzim of the Carmel Regional Council and is now in serious condition.

The boy bathed in the pool as part of a Bat Mitzvah celebration. The MDA team treated the child and evacuated him to Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The police opened an investigation.

A senior MDA medic, Nissim Hadad, who was summoned to the scene, said: "On the edge of the pool, a child of about 11 was unconscious while being treated by a doctor who came to the place and a lifeguard.

"We gave him advanced medical care, including respiratory assistance, and he was quickly evacuated to the intensive care unit in Rambam Hospital, with assisted breathing and in critical condition," the medic added.

Data from the Bterem child safety organization indicates that in 2016, 19 children died from drowning in Israel. Since the beginning of 2017, five children have drowned.

Orly Silvinger, the director of Beterem for Children's Safety, calls on parents to look after their children closely. "The summer has begun, and with it one of the most severe phenomena - drowning. Drowning is the main cause of death in summer among children. Most drowning occurs during a short break in supervision. After 2 minutes from drowning, unconsciousness occurs and after 4-6 minutes irreversible brain damage occurs. Therefore, never leave a baby or young child unattended by the pool or any water source. The adult caretaker must be within touching distance of the child and in contact with him."