Boy Remains In Critical Condition

Tue., Oct. 26, 1999

A 7-year-old Spokane boy remained in critical condition Monday night at Deaconess Medical Center after he lost consciousness Friday at the Garfield Elementary School playground.

It remains unclear what happened to the boy, said Gary Livingston, superintendent of Spokane School District 81.

“The doctors aren’t in a position to say what the problem is and they are still going through tests and examinations,” Livingston said.

The boy was not breathing when classmates found him lying near the playground’s monkey bars during the lunchtime recess. Two playground supervisors performed CPR on the boy until paramedics arrived. There was no sign of external injuries, Livingston said.

At the family’s request, school officials are not releasing the name of the second-grader.

Three school counselors remain available at Garfield school to talk with students distraught by the incident.

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