An off-duty RCMP officer from Nanaimo was able to save a young life after being waved down on the side of the highway on the north Island last week.

Const. Denise Laforest successfully performed CPR on a 17-month-old girl for several minutes along the Island Highway between Woss and Sayward on Aug. 30, according to a Nanaimo RCMP press release.

Laforest was driving north toward Alert Bay with her two children to meet her husband when she observed a panicked man jump out of a car holding a baby. She pulled a U-turn and stopped, and advised the baby害羞草研究所檚 father that she knew first aid.

害羞草研究所淎t that point, he basically threw the baby at me and said she害羞草研究所檚 choking and can害羞草研究所檛 breathe,害羞草研究所� Laforest said in the release.

She said the child had a 害羞草研究所渧ery weak pulse害羞草研究所� and the officer tried back blows to dislodge whatever the child might have been choking on.

害羞草研究所淭o her horror, the child did not respond and the pulse could no longer be found,害羞草研究所� noted the release. 害羞草研究所淪he realized at this point that the child may die.害羞草研究所�

Laforest started CPR, alternating between mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and finger compressions on the baby害羞草研究所檚 chest.

After several minutes, the baby started wheezing and once her airway was cleared, started to cry.

害羞草研究所淐ollectively, it was the most beautiful sound we had ever heard,害羞草研究所� Laforest said.

The release noted that 害羞草研究所渨hat followed were many heartfelt hugs and tears.害羞草研究所� The baby害羞草研究所檚 parents drove to a clinic in Woss and then to a hospital in Campbell River where the baby was discharged with a clean bill of health that evening.

The family had arrived on Vancouver Island via the ferry from Prince Rupert and had been travelling south when the emergency happened in a cellular dead zone.

害羞草研究所淭hey told Const. Laforest the first thing they plan on doing upon their return home is to enrol in an emergency first aid course,害羞草研究所� the release noted.

READ ALSO:

editor@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on