Mum saves choking toddler
Two-year-old Harry had started to choke
THE LIFE of a two-yearold boy has been saved thanks to free CPR classes set up in the wake of the death of five-year-old Charlie Dunn last month.
Rachel Hills, 38, of Market Bosworth, was driving through the town last week when her toddler Harry choked on a sweet.
Harry started to splutter and turned red in the face.
But his mum didn’t panic, she knew exactly what to do because the previous evening she had attended a lifesaving course which gave her the confidence to act quickly.
Mother-of-four Mrs Hills said: “Harry was eating some sweets and he started to cough and splutter. I could see he was going a bit red in the face.
“Normally I would panic, but because of the classes I felt very confident and knew exactly what to do.
“I pulled over and hit him on the back five or six times and he spat the sweet out and started breathing again.
“He wasn’t too amused at being hit on the back and started crying, but he’s completely fine.
“The classes are fantastic, they are very informative and I feel like I now have the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency.”
Steph Willis and Nicci Ross, who is a senior resuscitation officer at University Hospitals of Leicester, set up the classes after being shocked by the death of five-year-old Charlie Dunn following an incident at Bosworth Water Park in July.
The courses, which teach people how to perform artificial respiration, defibrillation and other medical procedures, have proved popular and around 80 people signed up.
Mrs Hills added: “I would like to thank Nicci and Steph, I think the classes are really making a difference and I hope it expands into other areas of the county.”
Mrs Ross, 47, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that our classes are making a difference, it proves they are working.
“The team are all volunteers and they’re incredible. People have shown a real interest in the classes and it is fantastic to see the whole community engaged.”
The group, which includes firefighters from Bosworth station and first responders, is now fundraising to purchase a second defibrillator for the town.
A fundraising page will be set up in the coming weeks, Mrs Ross said.
The final course is this Sunday at Swan House Business Centre, in Bosworth Hall, from 2pm to 5pm. Visit their Facebook page for more information @BosworthCPR
Market Bosworth Football Club is also relocating its defibrillator outside of its fence so all residents can use it in an emergency.