Quick thinking officers save lives

Two lives were saved in two separate incidents just two hours apart thanks to the quick thinking of six officers from Greater Manchester Police's Trafford division.

In both cases, which took place on Tuesday 12 April 2011, officers were quickly on scene to provide vital emergency resuscitation to victims prior to the arrival of paramedics.

At around 1pm, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Peter Epstein and PCSO Steve Wright of the Urmston and Partington Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) were on patrol in Hazel Walk, Partington when they heard screaming. Their attentions were drawn to a mother and her two-year-old child, who was losing consciousness after banging his head on the floor following an accidental fall.

While PCSO Wright called for an ambulance and tried to calm the mother, PCSO Epstein checked his airways, discovered he was choking and started emergency resuscitation. Two more officers were quickly on scene to help and PC Brian Delaney checked the child's pulse and PC Nick Slater spoke to the emergency services operator and relayed instructions to PCSO Epstein while they waited for the ambulance.

PC Delaney and PC Slater then escorted the ambulance to Wythenshawe Hospital where the child was kept in overnight for assessment. He has since returned home.

At around 3pm, PC Clare Robinson of the Stretford NPT and response PC Xan Donagher were on patrol near to Old Trafford Stadium when a member of staff approached them from the Bishop's Blaize Public House. The officers were told that a colleague at the pub had suffered an electric shock and had collapsed and gone into a fit.

Both officers attended the pub and PC Donagher called for an ambulance. As they waited for it to arrive, PC Robinson revived the victim's breathing firstly using mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, then chest compressions after his breathing stopped again. At this point, the victim started to regain consciousness and was taken by ambulance to Manchester Royal Infirmary. He has since returned home.

PCSO Peter Epstein said: "I didn't panic; I just did what any public servant would really and used my training and skills to the best of my ability to help a person in need.

"It was a real team effort and my colleagues played an equally important role during the event, calming the mother down, speaking to the operator, relaying instructions then escorting the ambulance to hospital.

"We're all just glad that we could help and that there was a happy ending."

PC Clare Robinson said: "I tried to remain as calm as possible. I am aware that this type of thing happens up and down the country all of the time but this is the first time I have had to call upon my CPR skills.

"It was all a bit nerve-wracking; the victim was in a bad way when we got there, plus I had to get his breathing going on two separate occasions.

"It still hasn't really sunken in, but needless to say we were delighted when the victim came around and I would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

Chief Superintendent Mark Roberts, Divisional Commander for Greater Manchester Police's Trafford Division said: "It is highly unusual for two incidents of this nature to happen within such a short time period and in such close proximity, but I am proud of the officers. They showed calmness and excellent decision making while under considerable pressure."