Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Inc.

11/27/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/27/2021 15:02

Waukesha Christmas Parade incident — Updates from Children's Wisconsin

NewsNov 27, 2021

Waukesha Christmas Parade incident - Updates from Children's Wisconsin

Saturday, Nov. 27

3:00 p.m.

Thankfully, another child was able to return home from Children's Wisconsin. As of Saturday, Nov. 27, eight patients injured in the Waukesha parade remain in our care. The conditions for these patients are:

  • Four in serious condition.
  • Two in fair condition.
  • Two in good condition.

Our Mental and Behavioral Health Helpline is available to support parents and their children struggling with trauma at (414) 266-6500 this holiday weekend. Individuals also can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at (800) 985-5990.

Friday, Nov. 26

2:45 p.m.

One more child was able to return home from Children's Wisconsin on Thanksgiving to continue their recovery. Nine patients injured at the Waukesha parade remain in our care. The conditions for these patients are:

  • Four in serious condition.
  • Three in fair condition.
  • Two in good condition.

Our Mental and Behavioral Health Helpline is open at (414) 266-6500, and we encourage parents to reach out for help for themselves or their children. Directly or indirectly, the tragedy impacts our entire community. Individuals also can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at (800) 985-5990.

We are thankful for the outpouring of support for the children injured in the Waukesha tragedy and for our teams who are caring for them.

Thursday, Nov. 25

5:00 p.m.

Gifts and other donations

We are grateful for the outpouring of support for the children injured in the Waukesha tragedy and for our teams who are caring for them. Your gifts of toys, food and other items are generous. Please be aware toy and other gift donations can be made by appointment only, Monday - Friday, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call (414) 266-2183 to schedule your appointment. We are unable to accept food or other perishable items. Should you wish, you may consider making a monetary donation to the Children's Wisconsin Foundation. Thank you.

Wednesday, Nov. 24

4:20 p.m.

We are thankful to share that three more kids injured on Sunday will be home for Thanksgiving, where they will continue their recovery. Ten patients continue to be cared for at Children's Wisconsin who were injured at the Waukesha parade. The conditions of those patients are:

  • Five in critical condition.

  • Two in fair condition.

  • Three in good condition.

No matter where our patients and families are, we are committed to supporting their physical and emotional needs.

We also are committed to supporting kids and families who are reflecting on the tragedy and the impact it has had on their lives. Families who need support can call the Children's Wisconsin Mental and Behavioral Health Helpline at (414) 266-6500. Individuals also can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at (800) 985-5990.

Tuesday, Nov. 23

5 p.m.

With deepest sympathy and sorrow, Children's Wisconsin shares that earlier Tuesday, a child being cared for at Children's Wisconsin passed away from injuries sustained at the Waukesha parade. As family and friends learn of this loss and the name of the child is likely to become public, the child's parents have asked that their privacy be respected. They do not wish to be contacted by media at this time.

This child was one of 16 admitted to Children's Wisconsin after being injured at the parade. Two families were able to take their children home Monday, where they will continue to recover physically and emotionally from this tragic event. The conditions of the 13 other patients being cared for at Children's Wisconsin are:

  • Six in critical condition.

  • Three in fair condition.

  • Four in good condition.

While we continue to care for and support the families in our care, Children's Wisconsin has also established a Mental and Behavioral Health Helpline, (414) 266-6500, for families looking for additional support.

Children's Wisconsin extends its condolences and care to all those affected by this tragedy.

10 a.m.

Read this blog post from Leslie Scott, a certified child life specialist at Children's Wisconsin, for some tips to help guide conversations with your kids about what they may be hearing or seeing.

If you need additional support, please call the Children's Wisconsin Mental and Behavioral Health line at (414) 266-6500 or you can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at (800) 985-5990.

Monday, Nov. 22

3:18 p.m.

Peggy Troy, president and CEO of Children's Wisconsin, released a statement on the tragic incident at the Waukesha Christmas Parade and the response of Children's Wisconsin and the community.

12:53 p.m.

NewsHub Wistia Embedded Video

News conference with:

11:30 a.m.

Update on the kids we've cared for at Children's Wisconsin:

  • 18 kids were brought to Children's Wisconsin Emergency Department.

  • Ages ranged from 3 to 16, which includes three sets of siblings.

  • Injuries ranged from facial abrasions, to broken bones, to serious head injuries.

  • Six of the patients were sent to surgery last night and two additional patients are undergoing surgery today.

  • Two kids were discharged last night. The other 16 were admitted to the hospital (10 to to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, PICU, and six to other areas of the hospital).

  • Of the 10 kids in the PICU:
    • Six are in critical condition
    • Three are in serious condition
    • One is in fair condition.

9:55 a.m.

As the pediatric trauma center for the area, Children's Wisconsin helped treat 18 kids who were injured from the Waukesha Christmas Parade incident on Sunday, Nov. 21.

At 11 a.m., medical leaders from the Children's Wisconsin Hospital-Milwaukee will conduct a virtual news conference to share more information about how Children's Wisconsin prepared to and continues to treat kids from the scene, and provide a high-level update on the kids in our care.

Sunday, Nov. 21

8:38 p.m.

Children's Wisconsin immediately prepared for a surge of patients after receiving notification from law enforcement of the incident at the Waukesha Christmas Parade. As of 8 p.m., Children's Wisconsin received 15 patients from the incident, with no reported fatalities at our hospital at that time.

The Children's Wisconsin Emergency Department and Trauma Center is fully open to support any community need, in addition to responding to this fluid and dynamic situation.

Additional information on the Children's Wisconsin response to this incident will be shared Monday morning.

Children's Wisconsin is the region's only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. At Children's Wisconsin, we know kids aren't just little adults and we tailor care specifically for the unique needs of a small, growing body.