MOORESVILLE, Ind. — Two Mooresville police officers are being credited for using CPR to save the life of a 13-month-old girl who stopped breathing outside a Kroger parking lot last week.
The child’s parents called 911 after the 13-month-old stopped breathing after exiting the Kroger located at 530 S Indiana Street. Mooresville Police Department officer Ryan Russell was the first to arrive on scene and immediately lept into action after seeing the unconscious child lying down in the parking lot.
“I put her on the backseat of my police car and started doing CPR with two fingers, just what we are supposed to do for infants and small children,” Russell said. “Our job is to act in tough circumstances and that’s exactly what we did.”
Russell said he was glad he participated in the department’s refresher course back in February, which ensured first responders knew how to perform CPR and provide first aid. The entire incident was captured on body cameras that recorded the officer’s quick actions.
K-9 Officer Eric Leap soon followed and provided vital assistance during an emergency where every second counts.
Leap moved the child from the squad car to the ground and began the next set of compressions until emergency medical services arrived.
“I think everyone should learn CPR. We could be three, four, five minutes away, and every second you are unconscious and unconscious is life-threatening,” Leap said. “Everyone should do CPR it would greatly benefit everybody in the public.”
Russell took the opportunity to urge the public to learn how to perform CPR since you never know when someone near you might need emergency assistance.
“Get as much CPR and basic first aid training as you can because you never know what situations could arise,” Russell said.
The child was transported to Riley Hospital for Children where she is continuing to recover.
“Most of us have kids to the top priorities saving the child CPR training kicked in,” Leap said. “It feels really good to save a life.”
