A young child’s life was saved during a sports day at St George’s School in Wrotham, thanks to the quick actions of an off-duty firefighter. Ian, an on-call firefighter with Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), was nearby working as a builder when he was alerted to the emergency via the GoodSam app, which notifies trained first responders of nearby cardiac arrests.
Ian, who is based at Borough Green Fire Station, dropped everything and rushed to the school within seconds.
Rapid Response Saves a Life
The child had collapsed and was found without a pulse and not breathing. Ian immediately began performing CPR, using the life-saving skills he had learned as part of his firefighter training.
“The skills I’ve developed as an on-call firefighter mean I’m confident to jump into action, fast, and help people in times of need,” Ian said.
A parent who was an off-duty paramedic also joined the effort, along with school staff and guidance from medical professionals over the phone. A defibrillator was brought to the scene, but thanks to Ian’s swift CPR, the child began to show signs of recovery before it was needed.
“After a few rounds of CPR, the child gripped my hand,” Ian recounted. “At first, I thought it was just a muscular contraction, but to my delight, they gripped it again. We got a faint pulse.”
The child was then taken to the hospital by ambulance and made a full recovery, returning to school just days later.
This incredible story highlights the importance of CPR and defibrillator training and the life-changing impact of a quick response in a medical emergency.
