A 4-year-old Alabama girl was rushed to the hospital and spent two days in the intensive care unit after her parents reported that she was picked up from school in a frighteningly unresponsive condition.
Doctors discovered a dangerously high blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.29% in the little girl’s system, according to a toxicology report shared with the media.
Mary Singleton, the child’s mother, told Fox 10 News that she was contacted by her daughter’s school only two minutes before dismissal. When she arrived, she discovered her daughter “slobbering” with a limp body** in the nurse’s office.
“It’s just really hard to deal with,” said the child’s father in the televised report.
child walking into school and being carried out, and don’t have any idea what’s going on.”
Medical Emergency and Investigation Underway
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a type of alcohol commonly found in hand sanitizers, cleaning products, and alcoholic beverages. A BAC of 0.29% is considered life-threatening, especially in a small child.
According to medical experts, if not treated immediately, such a level can result in coma, respiratory failure, or death.
Authorities have yet to determine how the child came into contact with the substance. The Pritchard Police Department is currently investigating the case and may refer it to the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for further review. So far, Mobile County Public Schools has not issued a public statement.
Concerns Over School Safety
The family is requesting accountability and transparency from school officials, particularly regarding how a child under their supervision could have ingested such a toxic substance. There is no information provided about the specific school or whether other children were affected.
“We need answers,” Singleton told reporters. “We trusted the school to protect our daughter.”
The Child Advocacy Center has urged parents and caregivers to keep ethanol-containing products out of children’s reach, as well as schools to review safety protocols for chemical storage and accessibility.
The Bigger Picture
This incident calls into question child safety standards in educational settings, as well as the enforcement of proper safeguards. As the investigation continues, parents across the state and beyond have expressed concerns about hazardous material handling and emergency communication.
The girl has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. Her family says they are still traumatized and are calling for a full investigation and accountability.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office arrested a teacher in connection with the incident. Tracy Walker, 56, was charged with aggravated child abuse, according to Mobile County Metro Jail records.
Meanwhile, advocacy organizations are urging Alabama school districts to review their safety policies and ensure that all employees are properly trained to recognize and prevent accidental poisoning.
