Quick police action saves the life of a three-year-old boy in Alicante

Two National Police officers acted quickly to save the life of a three-year-old boy who was having major breathing issues in the centre of Alicante.

Officers arrived to help the infant while he was still in his mother’s arms. They acted quickly and successfully stabilised him until paramedics came.

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The incident happened in the city centre. The officers, who were off duty outside a police station, noticed a terrified woman crying for aid on the street. They noticed that her son was choking.

The police discovered the boy lifeless, with very shallow, erratic, and spaced-out breathing, and unresponsive to stimulation and placed him on the bonnet of a police vehicle. They then began investigating him to determine the source of the issue.

Emergency manoeuvres for clearing the airways

During the examination, authorities discovered that the child’s tongue was large and in an unnatural posture, impeding his airway. They then conducted manoeuvres to clear his airway and improve his breathing.

Thanks to this intervention, the youngster began to respond, gradually regaining his breathing and level of consciousness. While waiting for medical help, the cops placed him in a recovery position and continued to stimulate him to keep him stable and prevent a relapse.

A medical team came minutes later and, following a first evaluation, sent the youngster and his mother to San Juan Hospital in Alicante. He stayed under surveillance for several hours before being released.

Continuing education for intervention in crucial situations

The National Police emphasise that the work of its personnel extends beyond the prevention and prosecution of crimes. It also covers humanitarian efforts in disaster situations. As a result, police are regularly trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of defibrillators. The goal is to be able to intervene effectively on and off duty when the circumstance calls for it.

Author: Derek Appleton