Girl, 5, recognised for her bravery after calling 999 when her mum collapsed at home
Last June, Zaynab Qasim had finished school for the day and arrived back at her east London home when she saw her mother,聽Samina Iqbal, fall unconscious. She quickly acted to get emergency services on the scene.
Thursday 13 April 2023 15:19, UK
A five-year-old girl who called 999 when her mother collapsed has been recognised for her bravery and reunited with the call handler who answered her cry for help.
Last June, Zaynab Qasim had finished school for the day and arrived back at her east London home when she saw her mum Samina Iqbal fall unconscious.
When she couldn't wake her up, the frightened child found her mum's phone and called the emergency services.
"I was scared when mummy fainted," Zaynab, who is now aged six, later said.
In a recording of the 999 call, London Ambulance call handler Natasha White asked: "Is she awake?", and Zaynab responded "no".
Ms White then asked: "Is she breathing?", and Zaynab again said "no", as she couldn't see her mum breathing.
Zaynab was able to give Ms White her full address and confirm she lived near a fire station.
Ms White reassured Zaynab, saying: "I can see where you are. Help is on its way. Just stay on the line."
An ambulance crew arrived to help Ms Iqbal who was later found to have suffered such a debilitating migraine it had caused her to collapse.
Ms Iqbal said: "I'm so proud of Zaynab. She literally helped me in such a stressful situation while staying so calm.
"I'm so impressed she knew our address by heart.
"We actually never taught her to call 999, but because of an incident that happened to a close family member in the past, Zaynab has always known that in the event of a medical emergency, you should call an ambulance.
"I now think all parents should teach their children how to make emergency phone calls."
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'Your children could save your life'
Zaynab, her mother, and her father Muhammad were invited to the ambulance service's headquarters in Waterloo, where chief medical officer Dr Fenella Wrigley, director of 999 operations Stuart Crichton, and Ms White handed Zaynab a certificate honouring her bravery.
Ms White said: "Zaynab did so brilliantly on the call. She managed to stay calm and was able to give me her full address and landmarks which made it easy for the ambulance crew to reach her mum.
"I loved meeting her - call handlers rarely get to meet callers or the patients we help. And this was a very special caller."
Mr Crichton said: "Zaynab is a very clever girl and a credit to her parents. Teaching your child how to call 999 in an emergency could save your life.
"You don't need to unlock a phone to make a 999 call but it is important that children know their full address and how to open the front door in an emergency."