A 3-month old baby was revived with bystander CPR. The child is recovering in a hospital after a dramatic emergency response in which 911 ambulance dispatcher coached bystanders on how to perform infant CPR.
Life on the line
According to Marc-Antoine Deschamps of the Ottawa Paramedic Service, bystander CPR is one of the initial links in the chain of survival. Therefore it is vital for the dispatchers to find someone to do it. Even if you have not taken a course, the dispatchers will instruct you on what to do and how to do it.
The incident started when the infant’s parents were driving on St. Laurent Boulevard and noticed the girl had become unresponsive. They stopped on the overpass near Innes Road and one person sprinted around 400 meters to get help from Fire Station No. 36 on Industrial Avenue.
Once the firefighters arrived, a City of Ottawa parking enforcement officer had already stopped to help and bystanders were on the phone to the ambulance dispatcher.
The female dispatcher coached them through the process until the firefighters took over. The child was taken to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario where she was in stable condition.
It is vital to call 911 right away so that instructions on what to do will be given. Even if you are near a healthcare facility, unable to perform CPR might be too late.
Delivery of immediate care
The prompt delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is vital during emergencies. It is recommended to enroll in a first aid course today.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a class on first aid and CPR and for more information, check out these sources:
https://www.babycenter.com/0_infant-first-aid-for-choking-and-cpr-an-illustrated-guide_9298.bc