April 27--HIGHLAND -- "The difference a second makes is literally the difference between life and death," said Liz Brown, a Cal Fire spokeswoman, citing the saving of a 1-year-old boy Saturday afternoon as an example.
Cal Fire's San Bernardino Emergency Command Center received an emergency call at 2:45 p.m. about medical emergency aid for an infant found at the bottom of a pool in the 7800 block of Santa Paula Street in east Highland.
A paramedic crew was dispatched from Cal Fire Station 542.
Cal Fire paramedics/firefighters found two Loma Linda University Medical Center nurses already providing CPR to the child.
"Ten neighbors were standing outside, waving the Cal Fire medical emergency crew in when it arrived," Brown said. "The two nurses were neighbors and were off-duty from Loma Linda University Medical Center. Their instant actions helped the turnaround. The firefighter/paramedic crew took over resuscitation efforts with assistance from the nurses."
Resuscitation continued en route to Loma Linda University Medical Center. By the time the Cal Fire station crew and American Medical Response ambulance paramedics arrived at the hospital, the baby boy was breathing on its own and crying.
Cal Fire recommends parents visit The National Safe Kids website, www.safekids.org, and the Cal Fire website at www.fire.ca.gov. Both offer numerous tips and precautions parents can take to better assure children's safety.
Copyright 2014 - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.
