Cute moment boy, 2, performs CPR on teddy in skill taught by ambulance worker

27 August 2023 , 09:30

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Cute moment boy, 2, performs CPR on teddy in skill taught by ambulance worker

This is the adorable moment a playful toddler pretends to perform CPR on his little teddy bear - as he helps his ambulance technician aunty "save its life".

Taylor Wilson, two, presses the bear's chest and gives it mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the clip an ambulance service has shared to help highlight the importance of CPR. The curious tot repeats the process twice, following instruction from his aunty Amy Gibbons, 30, heard off camera at the family home.

Amy, who herself is expecting a baby, says: "One... two" as Taylor pushes down on the bear's chest, and then blows steadily into the stuffed toy's mouth. Both she and her sister - Taylor's mum - are heard praising the toddler at the end of the short video, posted on West Midlands Ambulance Service's social media.

Taylor Wilson recognises his skill may become extremely important (Mirror Online)

Speaking exclusively to Mirror, Amy, who has worked for the service for two years, said: "Taylor, from a young age, has always been so interested in learning new skills and words. He loves puzzles and will sit and complete a 42-piece puzzle with no guidance, so by showing him CPR I knew he would want to copy and do it himself.

"With ongoing encouragement from myself and other medically trained family members, hopefully Taylor will have the skills to save a life... He naturally just wants to hug the teddy and show it attention and, due to the nature of my job and learning the importance of early CPR, I do feel it's important to be taught from a young age on how to respond in an emergency and who to contact."

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Amy, who is from Brierley Hill, West Midlands, believes life-saving skills, such as CPR, are so important they should be taught in schools to all students as part of compulsory education. West Midlands Ambulance Service, which serves a population of 5.6 million people, also echoes thoughts that CPR is an essential skill - regardless of age.

The toddler, from the West Midlands, is seen giving his teddy mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (Mirror Online)

The ambulance technician continued: "I feel it's so important for everyone to understand the basics of CPR and early recognition from a young age and feel it should be more broadcasted and especially a set subject in school that every student studies.

"It is the matter of life or death and can happen to anyone at any time so learning the basics can save a life until emergency services arrive. Although Taylor is too young to know how to work a phone, this is something we will be teaching him in the future too... I hope he never has to (perform CPR), but I am sure if he did he would do amazing."

Earlier this year, the service launched a fun and educational campaign for youngsters called "Little Lifesavers" to teach children about the work it does. It encourages young children to become a "Little Lifesaver" by learning lifesaving skills such as, how to make an emergency 999 call, what kind of situation is an emergency, how to perform CPR and how to place someone in the recovery position as well as a virtual tour of an ambulance.

Amy Gibbons is pictured with her nephew before a shift with West Midlands Ambulance Service (Supplied)

As a baby, Taylor sat in an ambulance and has since been taught key skills by his aunty (Supplied)

Nick Henry, paramedic practice and patient safety director for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "It’s always great to see people learning the importance of CPR, and it’s particularly encouraging to see someone as young as Taylor learning, because CPR could be the most important lesson you ever learn.

"With cardiac arrests, starting hands only CPR as early as possible is the best way of saving a life. The earlier this begins the chain of survival, the more chance there is of the patient surviving. Every second really does count and knowing CPR could be difference between life and death."

Conversely, an alarming survey last month found nearly nine in ten parents (89 per cent) feel they would benefit from more help and information when it comes to performing CPR on babies and young children.

Over a third of new parents admit they would not feel confident in performing CPR on their child – and just 15 per cent believe they would be able to recognise if their youngster was in cardiac arrest.

Bradley Jolly