Triple Zero (000) Ambulance operator thanked for saving baby Ella
Early one morning, Ambulance Triple Zero Calltaker Samantha received a call from
11 year old Laura to say that her seven week
old baby sister (Ella) was dead and her mother was desperately
trying to resuscitate
the baby. Baby Ella was feeding in her mothers arms when she closed
her eyes, turned blue and went limp in her mother’s arms. It was
every mother’s
worst nightmare when she looked down to her unresponsive daughter
and noticed that she wasn’t breathing. The hysterical mum yelled
to her two
older daughters for help and started to do mouth to mouth resuscitation
on the baby. Laura had to go outside to make the Triple Zero call
away from the screams from her mother. She gave the address and
relayed instructions
from the operator to put the baby on the floor, check her airway
and commence CPR. Luckily, Ella’s mum had recently done a first
aid course and as the advice was being given to her, she recalled
what she
had learnt
in her course.
Laura and her mum remained on the line to Samantha who gave them vital first aid instructions, their only lifeline and chance of their babies survival was her advice and reassurance.
During the call, Baby Ella did regain consciousness but was breathing shallow. Her eyes were glassy and distant and still not responsive. Paramedics arrived and took Baby Ella to hospital.
Triple Zero Call taker Samantha answers approximately 100 emergency calls a day including calls about motor vehicle accidents, persons sick and in distress.
The Bishop family met Samantha recently and the paramedics who attended to their little girl. It is believed the baby had a seizure from a virus and had inhaled some vomit which caused her to stop breathing. She has since made a full recovery. Her family expressed their most heartfelt and tearful thanks to Samantha and the paramedics for helping them save their little girl.
Extract from letter to Ambulance
“ I write to express my sincere gratitude to the N.S.W Ambulance Service who attended our emergency…………...I had been feeding my newborn Ella on the lounge and noticed the baby had stopped moving. It was at that moment every parent’s worst nightmare became a reality when I noticed my baby had stopped breathing. I yelled to my daughters for help and by now I was hysterical and started to do mouth to mouth resuscitation on our precious baby.
Laura (11 years) called for the ambulance and as she could not hear over my hysterical screams for help, she went outside and gave details of our emergency. Little Caitlin (9 years), who was so sick herself went and got the baby change mat so that I could administer CPR. Laura had given our address and relayed instructions from the operator ( e.g put the baby on the floor, remove any pillows, check her airway, give 2 breaths and commence compressions on her chest ).
My girls were both very brave and we are so proud of them beyond words……………………………………..That wonderful sound of sirens in the distance snapped me back into reality, as I knew help would soon be here. Your staff were so professional and extremely caring to our whole family. The Ambulance staff went above and beyond to help us, and we will be forever grateful to them and your service. Please pass on our sincere thanks to the paramedics and calltaker involved, they are a credit to the N.S.W Ambulance Service.
The Bishop Family
Ambulance is committed to assisting the community create safer and healthier environments and outcomes by making prevention everyone’s businesses. A number of innovative community education programs have been implemented to assist identify life threatening conditions, understand what to do in an emergency and the importance of adopting illness prevention strategies.