Losing a child has been described as one of the most painful experiences that can happen in a person’s life. Sadly, for one couple in Maine, they recently lost their one-year-old toddler after visiting a petting zoo, and the death occurred for an alarmingly simple reason that leaves us asking one important question — Are our kids at risk?

Jon Guay and his wife, Beth, took their son, Colton, to the Oxford County Fair in Maine. While they were there, like most parents would, the Guays took Colton to the petting zoo to have the opportunity to pet the animals. Unfortunately, that simple task would later be the cause of Colton’s death after he came in contact with E. coli and contracted hemolytic uremic syndrome, according to NY Daily News. Children are more susceptible to the illness because their immune systems are underdeveloped, but there are measures that can be taken to protect your child.

Colton Guay

Colton’s symptoms began approximately three days after he had visited the petting zoo and presented as severe diarrhea. After spending a week hospitalized, the illness eventually progressed into a series of “massive brain seizures” that would ultimately be the cause of the toddler’s death.

After waiting days to announce the tragedy on his Facebook page, Jon wrote a touching post about his son’s death. The post began:

I apologize for not posting anything sooner concerning the disease my son has gone through but it was simply too painful to talk about.

https://www.facebook.com/jon.guay.3/posts/470425423137157

Jon continued:

What started as a joyous occasion in learning that our next baby due in February was going to be a girl soon turned to fear and concern as Colton was admitted to the hospital for severe diarrhea. My son Colton died a week later of H.U.S (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) which is caused by a bacteria that releases a toxin that attacks the kidneys and other organs. In this case the brain. It is believed that he contracted it through simple interaction with farm animals at a local fair (based on other similar cases).

Jon explains that along with his sorrow for his son’s tragic death, he is relieved “to know that he is in a better place free from any further pain or suffering.”

The Maine Center for Disease Control believes that the animals at the zoo were healthy, but many are unaware that E. coli can be present in both unhealthy and healthy animals. The best way to prevent infection from E. coli is with hand washing.

The CDC gives the following hand washing guidelines regarding E. coli:

Practice proper hygiene, especially good hand washing

Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. Wash your hands after contact with animals or their environments (at farms, petting zoos, fairs, even your own backyard).

Always wash your hands before preparing and feeding bottles or foods to an infant, before touching an infant’s mouth, and before touching pacifiers or other things that go into an infant’s mouth.

Keep all objects that enter infants’ mouths (such as pacifiers and teethers) clean. I

f soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and running water.

It’s tragic that this young boy has lost his life, but it also serves as a warning to all parents, who may be taking their young children to a petting zoo. Knowledge is power, and it can save a life. Something as simple — and easily overlooked — as hand washing could prevent an unnecessary death.

(h/t: NY Daily News, Image Source: Facebook)