A five-year-old was rescued from a pool by off duty paramedics and lifeguards. The incident happened at Langford aquatic center.
Watery ordeal
Lifeguards of the Langford Aquatic center and an off-duty paramedic named Kyle Klint and his wife Karlie Wilson pulled an unconscious five-year-old boy from the swimming pool. They immediately provided CPR on the boy.
According to Klint, we were in the right place and at the right time. We just remember our training in first aid and CPR. It was what we are supposed to perform, and the result was very positive. A day in the pool turned out to be a dramatic rescue.
The couple Klint and Wilson recalled before the incident, that they were in the pool together with their twin four-year-old boys when suddenly they saw a commotion in the water. Klint was at the top of the waterslide of the pool when he heard a whistle from a lifeguard. It is a signal of danger.
We watched together with some people in the pool as the lifeguards moved people away from the pool and pulled a boy out of the water. One of the lifeguards immediately provided CPR on the boy.
Klint and his wife immediately recognized the sign that the boy was in cardiac arrest. They did not hesitate and immediately stepped in and helped in providing CPR on the boy. Wilson performed chest compressions, while Klint kept the airway of the boy clear and helped with ventilation.
According to Klint, they really wanted some help because the incident was full of emotions. Anytime as a first responder and you deal with children, it produces plenty of emotions and a little bit more tense.
The mother of the boy was already panicking as were as the twin boys of the couple Klint and Wilson.
The boy began was revived and began breathing on his own after three to four minutes of CPR. The boy was already awake when he was taken to the hospital by an ambulance for further treatment.
The incident at Langford Aquatic center is a reminder about the safety of children in the pool. Parents should keep an eye on their children every time when they spend time in the pool. Children who are not a strong swimmer should wear a life jacket even in the pool. Any parent, when they see their children struggling in the water, should immediately call the emergency numbers.
Klint suggests that every parent should consider taking first aid courses. You can never tell when accidents can happen. It is better to be prepared anytime.
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LEARN MORE
Learn how to help by enrolling in a first aid and CPR course and for more information, check out these sources:
Drowning in Children: First Aid and Prevention – WebMD
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Children: First Aid Guide – WebMD