In a disturbing incident in Alabama, a 4-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital with dangerously high levels of ethanol in her system, leading to a two-day stay in the ICU. Mary and Albert Singleton are now desperately trying to figure out how their daughter ingested enough ethanol to end up in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The Start of the Incident
On Monday, Mary Singleton received an alarming call just two minutes before school dismissed from the Mobile County Public Schools. School officials informed her that her daughter was in distress, and when Mary arrived at the school nurse’s office, she found her child in a concerning state.
Mary recounted to local news station WALA that her daughter was limp, slobbering at the mouth, and in a state of heaviness. The teacher reportedly handed the child over to her mother, saying they should go to the emergency room.
Hospitalization and Toxicology Report
At the hospital, medical staff ran a toxicology report, which showed that the 4-year-old had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .29—a level dangerously high for a child of her age. For comparison, a BAC of .08 is typically the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol for adults.
The alcohol in her system was confirmed to be ethanol, which is commonly found in hand sanitizers, food packaging, and various beauty products, in addition to its more familiar use in alcoholic beverages. While ethanol is typically safe in small amounts, the girl’s intake was severe enough to put her in critical condition.
Investigation and Unanswered Questions
Despite the concerning nature of the incident, how the child ingested the ethanol or what exact product she came into contact with remains unclear. The Singletons and Mobile County Public Schools are still searching for answers.
When asked for comment, Mobile County Public Schools did not respond to requests for information. However, Prichard Police have launched an investigation into the case. At this stage, no criminal charges have been filed, but the case could potentially be passed to the Child Advocacy Center for further examination.
The Girl’s Recovery
After receiving treatment, the girl was discharged from the ICU on Wednesday, and she is currently recovering at home. Her parents are understandably shaken by the events, and they are calling for greater clarity about how their daughter was able to access such a dangerous substance at school.
No Criminal Charges Yet, Investigation Ongoing
While no criminal charges have been filed at this time, Prichard Police are actively investigating the situation. Authorities are working to determine whether negligence or poor supervision played a role in this dangerous incident, and whether the school failed to adequately protect the child from harmful substances.