COLUMBIA, S.C. — According to Richland County Sheriff's Department, a child died after being found unresponsive in the pool area of the Wildewood South apartments in northeast Columbia. The Richland County coroner has confirmed the child was five years old.
Law enforcement says the incident happened on Sunday at the apartments on Sparkleberry Lane. Deputies say five year old Capri Robinson was found unresponsive in the pool area.
Around 6 pm Sunday evening, deputies were called to the northeast Columbia apartments, where they found Robinson unresponsive and not breathing. She was taken to a local hospital where she later died.
The sheriff’s department tells News19 they are still investigating but they aren’t releasing any additional information on what led up to the child’s death.
“It’s good to start basic swimming lessons for children between the age of one to four years old,” said Kenishia Golden-Smith, pediatric injury prevention coordinator for Prisma Health. She says drownings are common in the Midlands.
“As a parent, you want to make sure that you are trained in CPR so if there is a life event, or your child or family member has drowned, you're able to do those life saving techniques in order to save them until emergency or medical help arrives,” she said.
Golden-Smith says there are types of drowning parents should look out for.
“When people think of drowning, you would imagine someone who's failing in the water splashing, their head is bobbing in and out of the water. When you typically think of drowning, that's that would be the visual picture for yourself. That's what most people think, but drowning can be silent, no movement at all,” she said.
She added “If you see your child, if you call their name, they're in the water and they can't respond or if their body is turned vertical in the water or if their head is tilted back. That's those are signs of silent drowning.”
Ashley Polk is a parent in the area who says she has concerns when it comes to her kids swimming.
“The biggest concern is that you can drown in such a shallow amount of water. The water could just be a couple inches deep and the child could drown, so whatever there's water around, we always make sure we're safe, and that we're paying attention to the children around water,” Polk said.
Prisma Health says CPR classes can be taken online and in person with the American Red Cross.
“When you are able to pull that victim out of the water. you're certified in CPR, go ahead and start the CPR process if the victim is not responsive, or unconscious. and in the meantime, also have someone call 911 or you call 911 if you're by yourself, and continue CPR until emergency services shows up.”
According to the sheriff's department the incident still remains under investigation.