MY LITTLE LIFE SAVE
April knew just what to do when her mum collapsed
Caitlin Walsh, 23, Buxton
Ever since she was old enough, I’ve made sure that my daughter April, 5, knew what to do in case of an emergency.
‘How do you call the ambulance?’ I’d ask her. ‘999!’ she’d always reply. You see, I’m not like other mums. When I was 5, I was diagnosed with Perthes disease after my mum Caroline, now 52, noticed that I was walking oddly.
A rare disorder that disrupts the blood supply to the hips, weakening the bone cells, it makes life hard.
When walking, I can feel bone grinding in the sockets, and I get really achy in winter. I also suffer from fatigue, and I’m very prone to infections.
Luckily, April is able to help me where she can. She can
dress herself, and always tidies up her toys, for example.
Being so unwell, it was important to me that April knew what to do in an emergency.
Looking back, I’m so glad I taught her...
It was 11 July this year, and I hadn’t been feeling well for a few days. I take lots of meds, but something was playing havoc with my stomach, leaving me constipated, vomiting and in terrible pain.
After picking April up from school, the agony grew more intense. Sitting on the loo, I suddenly began to feel woozy. I knew something was wrong.
I called for April, who was playing in the other room, but she couldn’t hear me.
Suddenly, I passed out, hitting my head on the sink on the way down. Gradually drifting in and out of consciousness,
I knew I needed help.
‘April!’ I screamed groggily, ‘Mummy’s not well!’
April came racing to the bathroom door, took one look at me and ran straight off to find my phone.
‘I’ll call an ambulance!’ she shouted back.
When I came round, paramedics had arrived.
My mum’s friend Lia was there, too. She lives over the road, and she must’ve seen the ambulance pull up.
Medics started checking my heart rate and blood pressure.
‘You must’ve reacted badly to something in your medication,’ one of them suggested. I was soon stable, and relieved when I was told I wouldn’t need to go to hospital.
But I was still feeling fragile, so medics advised me to rest while Lia looked after April.
The next day, the reality of what my girl had done sank in. I couldn’t wait to pick her up from school and thank her.
‘Are you better now, Mummy?’ she asked.
‘I am – all thanks to you!’ I squealed, scooping her
She took one look at me and ran off to find my phone
up into my arms.
East Midlands Ambulance Service posted a recording of April’s 999 call to their Facebook page, to encourage other parents to teach their kids what to do in an emergency.
I cried my eyes out when I heard it! My brave girl had calmly answered all of the operator’s questions, confidently giving my age and our address.
I’m so proud of April – it just goes to show how vital it can be to teach your kids how to contact the emergency services.