A near tragedy occurred this afternoon in the Cape Town suburb of Southfield when a mother exited her residence to find her 18 month old baby girl floating in the swimming pool. A neighbor allegedly hearing the screams of the mother jumped over the wall to assist the mother. The neighbor promptly started CPR as she was a qualified nursing sister.
When ER24 paramedics arrived at the scene Metro ambulance personnel had already taken over the resuscitation efforts from the neighbor. The paramedics worked swiftly attempting to save the life of the child. The decision was made to load the baby in the ambulance and continue with CPR on route to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
Once at the hospital the resuscitation efforts were taken over by the trauma team and the child was later admitted to hospital in a critical condition. ER24 would like to advise parents to take extra precautions when allowing their children to play in or near a swimming pool.
Andre Visser
ER24