14th February 2025
To mark National Heart Month, we are delighted to share this iHV Voices blog by Hayley Gardyi, a mother and “expert by lived-experience” explaining why it is so important that all parents learn paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – in an emergency, it can be the crucial difference between life and death.
My name is Hayley, and I am a mum of three. In July 2022, I saved my baby’s life when he was just 8 weeks old by performing paediatric CPR. According to the Resuscitation Council UK, less than 5% of parents would be able to spot the signs of cardiac arrest in an infant and less than a third would feel confident to carry out lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)!
Currently, there is no obligation to learn paediatric CPR in the UK, but why? Along with choking, sepsis, seizures and many more subjects of concern for babies and young people – none of this important information is included at your babies’ postnatal checks.
I learnt independently how to do CPR whilst sat looking at Brodie in his incubator after he had been born prematurely by watching the British Red Cross online video tutorial.
My story starts when I took one of my first trips out with Brodie by going food shopping. This went well, with no cause for concern and he was content and happy. However, I made one more stop before heading home that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
I made a quick trip to the vets to pick up a prescription for my dog. It was a terribly hot day and Brodie was asleep. Parking next to the vets and leaving the door ajar with the air conditioning on – a meter away from the car, I popped my head into the door of the vets and asked them to provide my dogs prescription whilst I wait by Brodie. Brodie woke and began to cry, I got in the car and thought to myself that he’ll settle on the way home, but something told me that this cry was not his normal cry and that something wasn’t right.
I got out of the car and tried to console him, he was not settling, and his cry escalated! I thought to myself, “I’ll move into the shade, maybe it is the sun upsetting him.” Then, he just stopped crying!
I looked down at him and he was limp and floppy. He had a blue tinge around his mouth, he was pale with a swollen and puffy face.
I ran into the veterinary clinic whilst screaming for help, I shouted “My baby’s stopped breathing, please call 999”. I ran to the waiting room chairs and put Brodie down, I could see that he was still not breathing. I listened to his heart, and he was gone!
I started emergency CPR, and I did what I remembered from the baby CPR training course.
I instantly started chest compressions and could see that Brodie was bouncing as the chair was bowed, it was not a flat surface. I remembered in a flash, the video I watched and the trainer saying that CPR must be done on a flat surface. I stood up holding my baby in fear and shouted that I need a flat surface. The vet rushed me into the clinic room, and I placed Brodie on the vet table. I gave him rescue breathes and continued compressions. The vet helped me and kept a stethoscope on him whilst I carried out the CPR, listening for any heartbeat. It took around 3-4 minutes before a heartbeat was heard by the vet.
They say your life flashes before your eyes – and Brodie’s life did! I just thought of my other two children and them not having their little brother and how am I going to tell them that Brodie is gone. So many thoughts went through my head.
A multiple of ambulance crews, an air ambulance and my husband descended on the site. Brodie and I were rushed to the Royal United Hospital in Bath where we spent a week in the high dependency unit.
I didn’t do everything by the book, but I remembered elements of the training. Whatever I did, worked! I saved his life! I believe that it is better to have some knowledge than not any at all, which is why I opted to have the training – and I am so relieved that I did it. He wouldn’t be with us now, if I hadn’t watched those short training videos.
We can all learn emergency CPR at the touch of a button. Why is CPR and first aid training not taught to all new parents and carers as they prepare for the birth of their baby? Here is why it is so important:
- Quick Response: Parents are often the first people present in an emergency. Knowing CPR ensures they can act immediately.
- Reduces harm: Brain damage can occur within minutes of oxygen deprivation. CPR helps maintain blood flow to the brain and other vital organs until professional help arrives.
- Injury, choking and unexpected cardiac arrest: Being trained in CPR means parents can handle these situations effectively.
- Confidence and Peace of Mind: Knowing CPR gives parents confidence in their ability to help their child in an emergency, providing peace of mind in daily life.
I hope that my story will help to encourage more parents to learn what to do in emergency situations, even if it is just looking online or watching a quick explainer video.
Since that awful incident, I have worked with the British Red Cross to produce a CPR video which is available to all new parents, health professionals – and I have worked with health visitors, school nurses, midwives, paediatric consultants and GPs who all promote this life saving skill, as well as the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire maternity and neonatal voices partnership.
I have also reached an audience at a national level and appeared live on Channel 5 News, ITV local news and BBC Points West. A growing number of hospitals and health professionals are invested in my cause.
I hope that everyone reading my blog will support my cause and help raise awareness of the importance of learning CPR. All health visiting practitioners have an important role to play – you can watch my life saving video and share it with the parents and families you are visiting.
This life-saving video is something we hope families will never need, but by sharing it, you could help save a baby’s life.
