4-Year-Old Boy Bitten by Venomous Snake, but Day Care Fails to Call 911

A 4-year-old boy is recovering from a venomous snake bite that the day care center he attends in North Carolina initially mistook for a splinter.

The child had been playing near a sandbox at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center in Stony Point when his hand began to swell on Thursday, Sept. 4, WSOCTV9 reported. Day care workers contacted his guardian, suspecting that he may have a splinter or could have broken his hand.

However, once his guardian arrived at the day care center, the information they were told was allegedly changed, as it was revealed that the boy had been bitten by a copperhead snake. Emergency services confirmed to the outlet that they did not receive a 911 call in regards to the snake bite.

“The director got up and said he got snakebit. My first thought was, why didn’t they call 911?”  the boy’s aunt, Brook Cooper, told WSOCTV9 of her arrival at the day care. “My second thing was like, do the other parents even know?”

Alexander County 911 stated that they respond to snake bites every year in the county. Despite first responders not carrying anti-venom, they can help victims before they arrive at the hospital, per WSOCTV9.

Family members had to rush the boy to the hospital following the attack at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center, while a day care worker allegedly killed the snake before children returned to the playground the next day.

Tiffany Robinson, who is an owner and co-director at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center, said in a statement shared on Facebook that the “safety and well-being” of every child is their priority at the center.

“During outdoor play on Thursday, the children were playing with the mulch on the playground when one child picked up a snake out of curiosity,” Robinson said. “The snake bit the child, but the child continued to play at first. Staff noticed the child shaking their hand and checked on the hand, believing it might have been a splinter from the mulch. Because our mulch is rubber, this seemed unusual, and out of caution, the guardian was called immediately. 

“The conversation began with the belief it was a splinter, and the guardian was asked if she wanted the co-director to attempt to remove it,” Robinson continued. “She agreed. Upon further examination, however, it became clear that it was not a splinter but a snake bite. The guardian was called back right away, informed of the situation, and asked to come pick up her child immediately.”

Robinson’s statement added that the playground was “secured” for the snake’s removal and the child attacked received “timely treatment” at the hospital once taken there by their guardian.

“We want our families and community to know that this situation was handled quickly, responsibly, and with the child’s care at the center of every decision,” Robinson concluded. “We are also taking added steps with local professionals to further ensure the safety of our outdoor spaces. We are grateful the child is recovering and deeply appreciate the trust families place in us every day.”

A representative for New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center and Alexander County 9-1-1 & Emergency Management did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Monday, Sept. 8.

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According to the Mayo Clinic, 911 or local emergency authorities should be contacted immediately after a venomous snake bite. It is important to calmly “move far away” from the serpent before removing any jewelry or tight-fitting clothes.

Pain, swelling and a change in color at the site or all the way up the limb are among the common symptoms of a snake bite. Others may include nausea, difficulty breathing and muscle weakness.

Victims of a snake bite are advised not to try to remove the venom themselves or to tie off the bite area.