JUST 11 weeks ago Caitlin and Laura Bishop were sitting in their Thurgoona lounge room with their mum when their baby sister began vomiting and stopped breathing.
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The drama continued as their mother, Diane, called triple-0 and began performing CPR on baby Ella, then six weeks old.
“She vomited twice, started to go limp and closed her eyes slowly; it was a mother’s worst nightmare,” Mrs Bishop said.
That’s when Trinity Anglican College students Caitlin, 10, and Laura, 12, took charge by grabbing the phone from their mum and relaying directions from the paramedic.
The girls were yesterday recognised for their bravery and presented with a 000 Star Award from Ambulance NSW by the two attending paramedics at a school assembly.
“It was scary at the time,” Laura recalled yesterday.
“I remember I ran outside with the phone because mum was screaming and I couldn’t hear.
“I listened to what the ambulance lady was saying and told Caitlin so she could run back inside to tell mum.”
An ambulance had arrived within five minutes but by that time Mrs Bishop had baby Ella breathing.
“I have done a first aid course which also covered babies, but it’s completely different when it’s your own child,” Mrs Bishop said.
Both girls waited at the gate for Albury paramedics Bernie Meares and Fiona Dillon who rushed Ella to Albury Base Hospital where she was released the next day.
Ella, who has since made a full recovery, was diagnosed with gastro, the same sickness Caitlin had at the time.
Mr Meares yesterday commended the girls’ bravery.
“The ability for the girls to relay the life-saving directions to their mum was vital,” he said.
“When we arrived baby Ella was kicking and screaming.
“It’s always nice for us to find a crying baby as funny as that sounds because we know they are breathing.”
