Crystal, 4, saves her mum

Apr 28 2008 by Gregory Tindle, Western Mail

AN experienced paramedic has praised a four-year-old girl who helped her mother get through a serious epileptic fit.

Realising her mum was having an attack Crystal Lewis persuaded her mum Dee to ring 999 and then coolly dealt with the ambulance crew when they arrived at her door.

Paramedic Steff Roberts, who answered the call, said he has never met a child who acted so responsibly in the face of an emergency.

He said: “Were it not for Crystal her mum could have faced a much more dangerous situation. It’s thanks to her that it turned out happily. This little girl played a big part in this emergency – something I’ve never experienced before in someone so young.”

The drama started when 22-year-old Dee, who is six months pregnant, was having an evening rest and watching television with Crystal.

Dee, who lives in Treforest, said: “All I can remember is hearing Crystal’s voice telling me I was shaking and then she kept telling me over and over again to ring for an ambulance.

“Somehow I must have taken notice and made the call but I can’t remember how I did it.”

Dee said that Crystal had witnessed previous fits and had initially been very upset.

“It used to freak her out until her grandmother who is also an epileptic sat her down and explained what was happening and just to make sure that when I had a fit there was nothing near my head that could injure me,” she said.

“Ever since then she’s been really good and not frightened at all.”

Steff, a paramedic for 15 years and based at the Gelli ambulance station, in Rhondda, said: “When I arrived this little girl answered the door and I initially thought she may have dialled 999 by accident. But she immediately said: ‘My name is Crystal and my mam’s feeling bad.’

“She then led me through the house where Dee was on the settee. She was starting to come round but was still not completely with us, still twitching and grinding her teeth.

“I gave her some oxygen and then took her to hospital where she rested for a couple of days.

“It just goes to show you’re never too young to learn how to behave in an emergency.

“In this case you would expect a child to be crying and panicking, seeing her mother in such a state.

“Crystal was just tremendous, calm and very grown-up – a real credit.”