In a world where most parents complain that their kids watch too much TV, an incident in the life of a 22 year old from Rhondda Valley could well make them stop and say “TV? Why not junior? Watch all you want!” An American TV series saved the life of Dai, father of Louise Morris, 22. Louise is a ardent fan of House, a medical drama television series. On regular viewing of the series, Louise became accustomed to several emergency medical procedures that feature in the show.
When her 55-year-old father stopped breathing, she kept herself calm and composed and performed chest compressions that she learnt from the show. She was able to provide the necessary first aid which saved her father’s life, until paramedics arrived. She said that she knew that her dad had just 3 minutes before lack of oxygen caused brain damage from watching House. Since she knew what to do because the show featured authentic techniques, she went ahead.
She said that she placed him down on the floor and pushed on his heart while she breathed into his mouth. She also said that she kept on doing so till the paramedics arrived who had to use a defibrillator 8 times before Dai’s heart was up and pumping again. He later received treatment for a month in a hospital for a blood clot. Doctors who treated Mr Morris said that if not for Ms Morris’s actions, he would have not survived. Dai Morris, a lorry driver said that his daughter was always watching TV medical dramas, which showed that there was “an educational side to them too”. “I was lucky she was there” he added. “Had I been in my lorry, I wound have been a goner.”
Photo courtesy: BBC News
