Gaston County father uses CPR, rescues 2-year-old daughter drowning in pool
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Gaston County family is spreading the word on the importance of knowing CPR after their 2-year-old daughter nearly drowned in a pool.
According to the Gastonia Police Department who spoke with the family, the horrific ordeal happened on Memorial Day, May 27, as several children were swimming in the pool.
Authorities said to the shock of everyone around, 2-year-old Mila went lifeless in the swimming pool. The family called 911, stating that a baby fell in the pool.
“I just felt hopeless. I just felt completely hopeless. Like, my baby is dead. How could this have happened? How am I going to live my life with my baby being gone?” Mila’s mother said.
4-year-old drowns in pool at Cramer Mountain Club in Gaston County
The child’s father, identified as Matthew, and a nurse, performed CPR. Eventually, little Mila opened her eyes and began to breathe on her own.
“Her stomach was filled with air, so I got her up, and I was going to try and express the air by beating her on the back, and when I did, she did release the air and she started to cry,” Mila’s father, Matthew said.
The toddler was transported to CaroMont Health and has made a full recovery.
“Our role now is going to be an adult, myself or my husband, is in the water with the children, playing with them, interacting with them,” Mila’s mother said.
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According to Gastonia Police, nine out of ten children between the ages of one and 14 who drowned were under supervision when they died.
Authorities said in one study, that 82 out of 90 people who received CPR from a bystander after being removed from the water survived with a 91% survival rate.
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