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Six-Year-Old Drowns; Questions Linger Over Emergency Response
3 Dec
Summary
- Emergency response was delayed and disorganized, with a late ambulance arrival.
- No Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was available at the scene.
- The family was not contacted directly by the school after the tragic incident.
A tragic field trip to Carlton Farms in Rockmart, Georgia, resulted in the drowning of a six-year-old girl, Victoria King, with significant questions arising about the emergency response. Reports indicate a delayed and disorganized response, with the ambulance arriving 6 minutes after the 911 call and a further 25 minutes passing before it departed for the hospital.
Adding to the critical failures, no Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was available on-site, in police vehicles, or on the school bus, severely hindering immediate life-saving attempts. The ambulance was ultimately diverted to a different hospital due to the initial facility's inability to handle pediatric cases, causing further delays in critical care.
The family of Victoria King has expressed profound grief and frustration, not only over the circumstances of her death but also due to the lack of direct contact from her elementary school following the incident. While an investigation is underway, these details highlight systemic shortcomings in emergency preparedness and response protocols.
