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Child’s traumatic brain injury might have been avoided by CPR

California residents may have empathy with a child in another state who is fighting for his life in a hospital after he was hit by a car. He apparently suffered a traumatic brain injury because none of the bystanders at the accident tried to do CPR after he was struck. A spokesperson for the Red Cross says CPR is actually easy to do and can even be done without breathing into a victim’s mouth when people feel uncomfortable doing so.

The child’s mother said her 5-year-old boy was excitedly waiting for bedtime to arrive so the tooth fairy could get his first tooth that came out that day. However, before bedtime, he was struck by a vehicle while he was crossing the street. According to the mother, if only one person felt confident enough to perform CPR, his brain could have been saved from oxygen starvation.

The Red Cross spokesperson says CPR is possible even for those who are not trained. She says even without breathing assistance, a helper can do repeat compression of the chest. By pushing hard — about two inches deep — on the center of the victim’s chest, the blood circulation to the heart and brain can be stimulated to avoid brain trauma. The child’s mother hopes that this knowledge will encourage witnesses at accident scenes to provide critical CPR assistance.

While it is unsure what the future holds for this little boy and what the traumatic brain injury impact will have on his quality of life, his parents will face high medical expenses. Parents in California who are facing such challenges may pursue financial relief by filing a personal injury claim in a civil court. Not much is known about the circumstances of the accident that caused this child’s injuries, but if they can prove that the vehicle operator was negligent, the court may award a monetary judgment. Their documented claims for damages may include current and future financial losses and emotional damages.

Source: kdvr.com, “Family: CPR could have helped 5-year-old boy hit by car”, Julie Hayden, Jan. 21, 2016