KCFD firefighter recalls saving 7-year-old from drowning
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brandon Hullinger, an off-duty KCFD fire apparatus operator, jumped into action when a young child was struggling in the water of Hullinger’s neighborhood pool.
“I saw a young child halfway in the water and a half out. So I immediately jumped up. I told the young lady to call 911. I saw that she had her phone, and then I went over and saw the young child laying there lifeless,” Hullinger recalled. “I didn’t know at that time what had happened. So I immediately started CPR, asking the mom about what had happened. She described that he went to the bottom.”
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A neighborhood security guard ran over to help and took over chest compressions while Hullinger performed a modified Heimlich maneuver.
Moments later, the child expelled some water and began breathing independently.
KCFD officials are working to find the security guard’s name so they can recognize her for her training and contribution to saving a child’s life.
“It’s vital to have more than one person to help, and she did awesome. It was one of those things where you just rely on your training, and you hope for the best,” Hullinger said. “When I knew the child was starting to breathe, that was a huge relief. I felt like at least we had a shot at that point because it was not looking so good for a long time.
First responders from KCFD Station 44 answered the call and responded to the Coves neighborhood pool Monday evening.
The child was taken to a local Children’s hospital for evaluation.
The child is now recovering and is in stable condition.
Hullinger has been with KCFD for almost 17 years. He said this near-drowning experience and putting training to use while off duty was a first.
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“Even if I wasn’t in the fire department, as long as I had some CPR training, I’m hopeful it would be the same outcome,” Hullinger said.
KCFD officials are using this near-drowning incident to remind people that CPR training could save a life in an emergency.
“We always recommend reaching out to local organizations and see if you can get CPR training,” said KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. We do hands-on CPR training, and you don’t get a certificate for it, but it teaches you what you need to know to be able to save someone’s life.”
“That early CPR is vital in the success of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital environment. Your likelihood of surviving is typically less than 10%,” Hopkins explained. “If you don’t get early CPR and you don’t get early AED work, it’s actually less than 5%. So, having that training and having someone start CPR immediately could definitely make a huge difference.”
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