Melksham mum launches campaign for all new parents to learn CPR

A mum from Melksham is urging all new parents to learn CPR after her newborn baby almost died. Hayley Gardyj was visiting a local vets when her newborn son, Brodie, started crying horribly and stopped breathing. 

“He had a really strange cry and was inconsolable and then he just stopped. He went a purple, black and blue colour, his head was completely floppy and I knew straight away he was gone.” 

Hayley rushed into the vets with Brodie and started to carry out basic CPR which she remembered from a paediatric CPR training course she had taken years before. After several minutes of compressions, Brodie started breathing again and was then rushed to hospital. 

“I’d done the training thinking it was a good idea and I am so relieved that I did it. I was in an absolute panic, but bits of the training came back to me. 

“That’s why the training is so important. It should be compulsory for all new parents. I don’t know why it’s not. 

“Just a little knowledge can make all the difference and help save a baby’s life.” 

Medics discovered Brodie had a collapsed lung and Hayley later learned that because Brodie was a severely premature baby, he was more likely to suffer from respiratory problems. His heart stopped twice more at the hospital  

Hayley is hoping that her story will encourage more parents to learn CPR and emergency first aid. She has launched a campaign for paediatric training to become compulsory for new parents, even if it is just a short video to be shared with parents by their midwives or health visitors. 

She has launched a petition which can be signed at:  https://chng.it/c4yPQf8f 

“I’m appealing for the government to introduce mandatory paediatric first aid for all new parents,” said Hayley. “Approx. 5% to 10% of the newly-born population require some degree of active resuscitation at birth. 

“It’s better to have some knowledge than no knowledge at all – I just think it’s so important. If I can help save even just one baby’s life, then it will be worthwhile.” 

Hayley has had first aid training during her career working as a teaching assistant and was offered the paediatric CPR training while working at a nursery in May 2021. 

“I’m so relieved I had the training,” she said.  “Without it, Brodie wouldn’t be with us now. Hopefully in the future training it will be part of the midwife’s checklist before parents are discharged but until then, please do get some training, even if it is just watching a video.  

“It could save your little one’s life.”

According to St John Ambulance, this is what you should do if you need to resuscitate a baby under one year old: 

1. Call 999 for help – if you’re alone you need to give the baby 5 puffs followed by a minute of CPR before calling for help 

2. Place them on a firm surface and open their airway. With one hand on their forehead tilt their head back to check their airways and pick out any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose 

3. Take a breath and place your mouth around the baby’s mouth and nose creating a seal and blow gently and steadily for one second 

4. The chest should rise, watch the chest fall completely before doing the second puff – you should do this 5 times 

5. Put two fingers on the baby’s chest and push down a third of the depth of the chest. Release the pressure allowing the chest to come back up before pressing down again 

6. Repeat this thirty times at a rate of 100-120 pumps per minute 

7. After 30 pumps, open the airway and give a further two puffs 

8. Continue to alternate between thirty chest pumps and two puffs until help arrives or the baby starts breathing again