Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Girl praised after mum’s ice cream allergy collapse
ASEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been commended for her 999 call when her mum had an allergic reaction - to an ice cream.
Mariyam Yasmin, 31, had an anaphylactic shock after consuming a Nestle Nobbly Bobbly ice lolly at home.
She was struggling to breathe, shaking and needed urgent medical help.
Her daughter, Inayah, called 999 and told South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) call handler Lydia Gardiner what was wrong.
Inayah remained calm, was able to give her mum a vital injection, and greeted crews when they arrived at the home in Bath.
Emergency medical dispatcher Lydia later praised Inayah on her braveness.
She said: “Inayah was fantastic. She confidently told me her address, and said her mum was having an allergic reaction after eating an ice cream. She remained so calm and told me exactly what was happening.
“I was very impressed when she gave her mum her EpiPen straight away, before I even gave her the instructions.
“She knew exactly what to do. She answered all my questions
perfectly, and listened really well to everything. She really was brilliant and is a credit to her mum.”
Inayah made a special visit with her family to the SWASFT Control Centre in Bristol this week to be recognised for her actions.
She was presented with a certificate from SWASFT Chief Executive Ken Wenman to congratulate her for knowing what to do in an emergency.
Inayah said: “I tried to stay calm and not be scared. I’m pleased mummy is better now.”
Mariyam said: “It felt like someone was trying to strangle me. I couldn’t breathe properly. It was really scary.
“Thankfully Inayah knew exactly what to do, and she did everything perfectly. We’re so proud of her.”
Mariyam said Inayah had been curious about what to do in an emergency after seeing an elderly man fall over in the street.
So Inayah’s dad, Juhal, taught her how to respond.
She said: “Inayah was very curious. So her dad explained what to do, and taught her how to use the house phone which she used to call 999..”
Control room dispatcher Victoria Fido organised for crews to attend the incident.
Paramedics Alex Nicolson and Rebecca Fey were the first responders on scene. They were followed by Paramedic Heidi Hodgson and Emergency Care Assistant Tina Robins.
Paramedic Rebecca Fey said: “Little Inayah was standing at the front door when we arrived, and
It felt like someone was trying to strangle me. I couldn’t breathe
properly MARIYAM YASMIN
took us to her mummy. Then she announced that she needed to contact her daddy, because he was at work. She was so calm and brave in a scary situation.”
Mariyam will have a test in hospital next month in a bid to find out the exact nature of her allergy.
SWASFT encourages parents to teach their children what to do in an emergency. That includes showing them how to call 999, making sure they know their address, and ensuring they are aware of any known health problems in the family.