4-Year-Old Bitten by Copperhead at North Carolina Day Care; Family Questions Staff Response

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — A 4-year-old boy was bitten by a copperhead snake while playing at a North Carolina day care, raising concerns about staff response after the child’s family said no one called 911.

Snake Bite on Playground

The incident happened at the New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center in Alexander County while the child was playing near a sandbox. According to family members, a copperhead bit him on the hand near his ring finger.

Day care workers said the snake was killed after the attack, but the boy’s guardian had to personally rush him to the hospital for treatment.

Family Raises Questions

The child’s aunt, Brook Cooper, said the family was initially told the swelling was caused by a splinter or broken bone before staff admitted it was a snake bite.

“My first thought was, ‘Why didn’t they call 911?’” Cooper said.

Emergency officials confirmed they never received a call from the day care regarding the incident.

Medical Response and Uncertainty

The child was treated at the hospital, and family members later shared a photo showing his swollen hand. Officials noted that while Alexander County EMS does not carry antivenom, they are trained to stabilize snake bite victims before hospital transfer.

It remains unclear whether the day care notified other parents about the incident.

Community Concerns

The bite has left parents in Alexander County uneasy, particularly as copperhead encounters are not uncommon in wooded parts of North Carolina. Safety advocates stress that day care centers should immediately call 911 in emergencies, even if staff are unsure of the severity.

Do you believe North Carolina should require day care centers to follow stricter emergency protocols when children are bitten by animals or snakes? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.