A North Carolina family is demanding answers after a 4-year-old boy was bitten by a venomous copperhead snake while playing at his day care—only to discover that staff never called 911.

The frightening incident happened Thursday, Sept. 4, at New Beginnings Child Enrichment Center in Stony Point. The boy had been playing near a sandbox when he suddenly began shaking his hand in pain. Day care workers initially believed he might have gotten a splinter or even broken his hand.

Instead, his aunt, Brook Cooper, said she arrived to shocking news. “The director got up and said he got snakebit,” Cooper told WSOCTV9. “My first thought was, why didn’t they call 911? My second thing was like, do the other parents even know?”

The child’s family rushed him to the hospital, where he received treatment for the venomous bite. Copperheads, common in the Southeast, are responsible for more venomous snake bites in the U.S. than any other species. While rarely fatal, their venom can cause severe pain, swelling, and long-term tissue damage.

Emergency services confirmed to WSOCTV9 that Alexander County 911 never received a call from the day care. Authorities noted that while first responders do not carry anti-venom, they can provide immediate care and stabilize victims en route to the hospital—critical minutes that could make a difference.

In a statement, day care co-director Tiffany Robinson defended her staff’s response. She said the boy initially continued to play after being bitten, which led workers to suspect something minor. “Because our mulch is rubber, this seemed unusual, and out of caution, the guardian was called immediately,” Robinson wrote in a Facebook post.

She said the staff quickly realized it was a snake bite and contacted the child’s guardian again to come pick him up. Robinson added that the snake was killed before children returned to the playground the following day.

“We want our families and community to know that this situation was handled quickly, responsibly, and with the child’s care at the center of every decision,” she wrote. She added that the playground has since been “secured” and that the center is working with local professionals to further safeguard the outdoor play area.

Still, Cooper and other family members are outraged that no emergency call was made. “Do the other parents even know this happened? What if it was worse?” she asked.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the correct first step after a venomous snake bite is to immediately call 911 or local emergency services, then calmly move away from the snake and keep the bite area still. Removing jewelry or tight clothing is advised, but attempts to suck out or cut away the venom should never be made.

The boy is now recovering, but the incident has raised alarms for parents across the community. Many are asking why a facility entrusted with children’s safety failed to follow basic emergency protocol.

For Cooper, the relief of knowing her nephew is alive and healing is tempered by anger. “He could’ve died,” she said. “We trusted them with his life. They didn’t even call for help.”