2-yr-old's great-grandma fell to the ground after heart attack—she picked up phone and quickly saved her life
It is of utmost importance that everyone knows how to act in an emergency situation. Even children, as small as they may be, can have some way to help that can prove life-saving at a given moment. No one imagined 2-year-old Aaliyah Carrasco would be the reason her 77-year-old great-grandmother, Virginia Claflin, would be saved after a heart attack, per CBS News. The little girl somehow managed to take over the call when her great-grandmother could no longer speak and managed to get help in time to save the woman. Claflin had dialed 911 following the attack and had begun speaking with the dispatcher. She had collapsed to the floor on account of the heart attack and in her painful state, managed to slip a few crucial details about her condition.
The woman informed the dispatcher that her internal defibrillator had been activated four times. She also gave them an address. However, soon after, she was unable to speak and in much pain. With time running out, there was an urgent need for help to arrive. While the person was trying to speak to get more information, Carrasco took over and started speaking with the dispatcher, per WOODSTV8. After hearing a young voice say “hi,” the staff knew how to continue the conversation and only hoped they’d receive a response. When asked whether Claflin appeared to be “sleeping,” the girl responded with a “Yes.” Carrasco was even requested to open the door for the medical aid arriving.
The toddler even helped direct them to the room where her great-grandmother was when they arrived at her home. She also brought to their notice her younger brother and her great-grandfather who were asleep in another room. Her mum, Alicia Szymczyk, is nothing but proud of her 2-year-old for the astonishing call she continued with the dispatchers. “That's pretty typical. She loves talking on the phone,” the mom remarked. North Muskegon Fire Chief Steven Lague was also surprised by Carrasco’s shrewd and instinctive work. He noted how proud he was of the fact that the girl was calm and composed and even proved to be of help in the emergency. What struck him the most was the girl’s age.
"In my 28 years of experience, I've never experienced anything with a two-and-a-half-year-old like this. We have had 5-year-olds and 6-year-olds but at this age, I was very shocked,” he remarked. Sharing the story as a striking and inspirational example, the chief urges parents to teach kids how to respond in emergencies. “I don't think it's too early for them to start learning now,” he said. The 2-year-old was only visiting her family and wouldn’t necessarily know the address. Nevertheless, the mom explained that she had the talk about who the police, firefighters and other first responders are and that itself helped big time. Even teaching kids as little as this much can help in acquire the safety of their own and that of others. Like Carrasco—even a little can go a long way. The toddler was rewarded with a little doll as a present which she cherishes while her great-grandmother was okay after some treatment.