4-year-old bitten by copperhead at North Carolina day care; family says staff never called 911
Child hospitalized after snakebite at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center in Stony Point; emergency services say they received no call from the facility
A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized after being bitten by a copperhead at a North Carolina day care, and family members say staff at the center never called 911.
The incident occurred Thursday at the New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center in Stony Point, Alexander County, while the child was playing near a sandbox on the facility’s playground. The boy’s fingers swelled after the bite, and family members later said they were initially told the injury was a splinter or a broken hand before being told he had been snakebit.
A worker at the center killed the snake following the attack, family members said. The child’s guardian transported him to a hospital for treatment, the family said, and Alexander County emergency services confirmed they did not receive a 911 call from the day care about the incident.
Brook Cooper, the boy’s aunt, said the family learned the full nature of the injury only after arriving at the center. "The director got up and said he got snakebit," she told local outlets. "My first thought was, why didn’t they call 911? My second thing was like, do the other parents even know?" Cooper said.
County officials said their emergency services unit responds to snakebites every year and provides pre-hospital care before transporting patients to local hospitals when necessary. No update on the child’s condition was released by authorities or the family.
Copperhead snakes are venomous members of the pit viper subfamily, which also includes rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. According to Poison Control, copperhead bites commonly cause significant swelling, bruising and blood blisters around the bite site and can lead to systemic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure and bleeding. Symptoms can persist for about 12 hours, and bites can result in complications that require medical treatment, including antivenom in severe cases.
New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Local emergency responders reiterated that prompt medical assessment is recommended for any suspected venomous snakebite, and that calling emergency services allows responders to begin care and transport as needed.
The episode highlights recurring concerns in communities where venomous snakes are present about playground safety and the protocols day care providers follow when children are injured. Alexander County officials did not announce any regulatory action in the immediate aftermath, and it was not clear whether other parents had been notified by the center.
The family’s account and the county’s confirmation that no 911 call was received leave open questions for investigators and state licensing authorities, who typically review incidents at child care facilities when parents report injuries or lapses in emergency response. Further information regarding the child’s condition, any investigation and any response from the day care was not available.
Alexander County emergency services said they are experienced in treating snakebites, and medical guidance advises that rapid assessment and transport improve outcomes in venomous bites. Parents and guardians in snake-prone areas are urged to supervise play areas closely and report any hazardous wildlife sightings to local authorities so playgrounds and yards can be cleared and secured.