Joshua Wallace’s story is a miracle, as well as reminder that drownings don’t just occur in backyard swimming pools. They also happen in bathtubs, buckets and other water sources around the house, as well as back yard swimming pools and natural water sources like dams, rivers, creeks etc, and reminder that it only takes a moment for a toddler to get into trouble in any water.
Joshua’s mum, Krystin, with the assistance of expert guidance from the Ambulance Services 000 call operator provided Joshua with vital CPR that may well have been the difference in Joshua’s miracle recovery.
Joshua’s full story can be found here at Channel Nine News
Joshua’s parents have been in touch with the Samuel Morris Foundation and we appreciate their desire to become involved in helping to spread the prevention message.
Putting yourself out there to public scrutiny is not a decision that is taken lightly as there is sometimes negative feedback for parents in these circumstances.
Any parent who has been through a drowning or near drowning will tell you that the guilt does not ever go away.
We would like to thanks Krystin and Greg for taking the chance and putting their story out there.
We would also like to thank Channel Nine for including a link to the Samuel Morris Foundation in the online version of the story.
Please take the Wallace’s story as a reminder to:
- Always supervise children in and around any water source
- Provide effective barriers to keep children away from water sources (such as full bath tubs)
- Make children familiar with water through learn to swim classes
- Know CPR and first aid…. as you have seen here this may well be the difference between a miracle and poor outcome.
Please make a donation to help us support children who are not as fortunate as Joshua, and who survive their near drowning with a brain injury that leaves them with disabilities for life.
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