Health minister commends off duty nurse for saving newborn’s life in a taxi

Nguyễn Thị Thảo takes care of a week-old newborn, who choked on milk and stopped breathing and was saved by Thảo, at Hải Phòng Children's Hospital in the northern city of Hải Phòng.— Photo suckhoedoisong.vn

HÀ NỘI — Health Minister Đào Hồng Lan has sent a letter of commendation to nurse Nguyễn Thị Thảo from the Respiratory Department of Hải Phòng Children's Hospital, for her quick-thinking actions in saving a newborn who had stopped breathing, due to milk aspiration, in a taxi.

On July 4, thirty four year old Thảo successfully resuscitated a newborn, who had stopped breathing, in a taxi, by using her professional reflexes and emergency skills.

She helped the baby breathe again and continued to support the infant’s transport to the hospital, ultimately saving the baby's life and bringing immense happiness to the child’s family.

On behalf of the health ministry, Lan praised and honoured nurse Thảo for her professionalism, humanity, responsibility and ethical conduct.

"Your actions exemplify the high standards of medical ethics and the dedication to serving the people by health sector staff," Lan said.

In the letter, Lan also wished Thảo good health, happiness in life, professional success and continued contributions to the cause of medical examination, treatment and public health care.

At around 9 pm on July 4, while on her way home, Thảo saw an elderly man in a panic, holding a seven-day-old pale newborn and running onto the road as if looking for a taxi to take the baby to the hospital.

Behind him, a woman was also in a state of panic, crying out for help.

Sensing that the baby was in danger, with the instincts of a mother and the skills and responsibility of a nurse, Thảo immediately stopped her vehicle, ran over and quickly introduced herself as a healthcare worker from the Hải Phòng Children's Hospital, offering to save the baby.

While speaking, she took the baby from the elderly man's arms and placed the infant in the back seat of an approaching taxi.

Without wasting any time, she focused intensely on resuscitating the baby with external chest compressions, mouth-to-mouth breathing and direct nasal and oral suction while the taxi headed to Thủy Nguyên General Hospital.

Approximately ten minutes later, the taxi arrived at the hospital.

There, Thảo hurriedly carried the baby into the hospital’s Emergency Department and requested an endotracheal tube to resuscitate the patient.

She then joined the doctors and nurses at the hospital in the resuscitation efforts.

After about a minute of emergency care, the newborn's pulse returned, then the baby was transferred to Hải Phòng Children's Hospital for specialised treatment.

Nguyễn Thị Thảo receives an award by Secretary of Hải Phòng City's Party Committee Lê Tiến Châu (left) on Monday in the northern city of Hải Phòng.— VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Ngọc

After six days of treatment, the baby's health condition improved significantly, with blood parametres gradually returning to normal.

The baby is currently still on oxygen and continues to be monitored and treated for recovery.

Thảo said: "Everything happened so unexpectedly for both me and the baby's family, but I believe any nurse in my position would have acted the same way, not just me."

On Monday, the People's Committee of Hải Phòng City applauded Thảo for her exceptional performance in emergency care, saving the life of an infant outside the hospital.

Secretary of the city’s Party Committee, Lê Tiến Châu, said that he had closely followed the story through the media and he was much moved.

“Her simple and everyday action has multiplied emotions and strengthened faith in the good, in human kindness,” he said. — VNS