‘Operation Ouch’ helps Gold Coast nine-year-old save mum’s life after she stopped breathing
A nine-year-old girl who saved her mum’s life by calling triple-0 after she had stopped breathing said she learned the tip from a popular children’s show.
Charli Johnson called emergency services after her mum Sharon Williams fainted at their Helensvale home, on the Gold Coast, in July.
Extraordinary audio revealed the schoolgirl calmly taking instructions over the phone as the medical dispatcher Anne Barklimore walked her through CPR.
The nine-year-old hero said she immediately knew what to do after watching the show ‘Operation Ouch’.
‘It shows CPR and tells you to ring Triple 0 in an emergency and I just remembered my address and mum’s phone number,’ she told the Today Show on Saturday.
Charli Johnson (centre) called emergency services after her mum Sharon Williams (right) fainted at their Helensvale home, on the Gold Coast, in July (left, Anne Barklimore)
The nine-year-old hero said she immediately knew what to do after watching the show ‘Operation Ouch’
Operation Ouch is a British kids’ series hosted by identical twins Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand van Tulleken.
The show explores the human body and breaks down complex biology and medical topics into entertaining segments.
Charli said she had performed CPR on her mother for 17 minutes before paramedics arrived at her house.
Her mother Sharon said that she was incredibly proud of her daughter for remaining calm during the horrifying incident.
‘I just asked her how she got into my phone because it was locked,’ she said.
‘And she showed me. And there ‘s an emergency call and she managed to do it. She was very calm. I’m very proud of her.’
Ms Barklimore said the nine-year-old was one of the ‘most composed’ callers she had spoken to ever before.
‘I needed her to know I was here with her and I was going to stay with her,’ she said.
‘The way I was able to do that was with my voice.’
Audio of the phone call between Charli and Barklimore revealed the nine-year-old remained composed while she received instructions on how to perform CPR.
Charli said she had performed CPR on her mother for 17 minutes before paramedics arrived at her house
‘My mum woke up at 6.30 this morning,’ Charli told Ms Barklimore. ‘She was throwing up. I had to make my own lunch and everything.’
‘She was asleep all day. She just got up, opened the door, she kneeled to the ground and just fainted.’
Ms Barklimore instructed Charli to do CPR after the girl revealed things could be taking a turn for the worst.
‘I think she’s stopped breathing,’ Charli said.
The schoolkid (pictured) did the compressions as she was instructed over the phone by emergency medical dispatcher Anne Barklimore
Then Ms Barklimore led Charli through the steps of CPR.
‘Place the heel of your hand on the breastbone in the centre of the chest … pump the chest hard and fast,’ she said.
‘Count out loud so I can count with you – I need you to keep doing the compressions over and over. Don’t give up.’
The pair counted through the compressions together and Ms Barklimore told Charli her mum would be proud of her.
Eventually, Charli’s mum can be heard making noises in the audio released by the Queensland Ambulance Service as an ambulance approached the scene.
On Friday the school girl met up with Ms Barklimore and the paramedics who attended her mother.
‘She saved her mum’s life that day,’ Ms Barklimore said of the schoolgirl’s efforts.
‘She answered the questions calmly and directly — that’s so important.’
Drew Hebbron from the Queensland Ambulance Service awarded the young girl a certificate of appreciation for bravery and composure.
On Friday Charli met up with Ms Barklimore and the paramedics who attended her mother
