INCREDIBLE STORY OF COURAGE
18.11.2007
The STA has been informed of an incredible act of courage by one of the Association’s youngest trained NaRS Pool Lifeguards. Geraldine Lowe, a sixth form student at Croydon College, was staying at a friend’s house on 4th November when at 9.00pm the next door neighbour came banging on the door shouting that her 14-month old baby boy was not breathing.
Geraldine went to the neighbour’s house, where another adult was already attempting CPR, but because of her NaRS training, she quickly realised that they were doing it incorrectly. Speaking to her NaRS Tutors’ David Bushen and Melanie Davis after the event, Geraldine said; “When I saw the person giving the baby CPR, I immediately thought that’s not how you taught me, so I knew it was wrong, so I told them to let me have a go because I know how to do CPR.”
Using her training, Geraldine instantly recognised that the 14-month old baby was floppy and waxen looking, and was quite big for his age. He also had a runny nose with snot seeping out.
Geraldine then recalled how she took over chest compressions using one hand, as the boy was bigger than the Baby manikin she had practised on in training, but a little smaller than the little Junior.
Thankfully, after only a few minutes of CPR, the baby boy started to breathe with slow rasping breaths. At this point Geraldine also stated that the baby’s lips tasted of vomit. The ambulance soon arrived and took the resuscitated baby to hospital, where the vomit was aspirated, and treatment given for an upper respiratory infection. Thanks to the brave and swift actions of Geraldine, the baby boy is now fine and back at home.
Geraldine had completed her NaRS PL with BG and G Training in July, and Melanie says: “David and I are so proud of her; it takes a lot of courage for a newly-qualified lifeguard, let alone a 16-year old to step-in on their own, without the aid of a team, and control a frantic situation like this.”
Well-done Geraldine from all at the STA.
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EDITORS NOTES
STA is a UK based educational charity that has been training professional swimming teachers all over the world for 75 years, and its prime objective is ‘preserving lives by teaching swimming, life saving and survival techniques’.
For further comments from STA, please contact:
Samantha Stewart
Imagine Communications
Tel: 01746 763576
