KEPT IRON-LUNG CHILD ALIVE BY HAND PUMP

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1948, Page 5

KEPT IRON-LUNG CHILD ALIVE BY HAND PUMP

KAITAIA, Wed. (Sp.).—All-out efforts by medical and nursing staff of the Kaitaia Public Hospital, together with willing voluntary assistance, saved the life of the eight-year-old paralysis case when the hospital’s respirator or iron lung failed following a power cut-off.

The incident occurred less than 36 hours after the case was proved positive,"but owing to several factors details could not be released earlier.

For some years the hospital has had on hand a respirator made available by Lord Nuffield. Precautions were taken when the paralysis case was proved severe to ensure that the equipment was in reliable order although its use was not anticipated. With the child sinking fast from respiratory paralysis she was rushed into the' iron lung with immediate improvement. Treatment and reactions continued normal until a brief failure of the electric power supply when a hospital staff took over hand pumping lo keep the child alive. HELPED IN RELAYS

The emergency continued and the patient’s life depended wholly on the efforts of those who kept the pump working manually for a total period of 14 hours. RUSH TRIE TO MERCER Effective repairs were finally made and steps taken lo secure an additional respirator from Whakatane. Kaitaia Transport Company drivers made the return trip from Kaitaia to Mercer, a distance of 516 miles, in just over 21 hours to deliver the spare machine. At the same time a spare electric motor was secured on loan from the Hokianga Hospital Board.

First trouble occurred when tiro power came on unexpectedly. The sudden start of the electric motor snapped a vital part. Engineering and electrical assistance was called in and the response to this emergency was swift. Hospital staff and volunteer helpers continued pumping by hand in relays while repairs were rushed through. These were completed and adjustments made without interruption of the vital pulsation to keep the child breathing. Power was again applied but once more portion of the drive failed to take the strain. SPEED AID BILI

No praise is too great for the manner in which the hospital and its helpers rose to the emergency in the smallhours of the morning. First to man the pump were the medical superintendent (Dr J. H. Webber) and the Mangonui Hospital Board's secretary (Mr A. G. Wilson). Other townspeople speedily responded, including a strong force of St John Ambulance Brigade members. Dr Webber reported this morning that the patient continues to make very satisfactory progress, and that normal feeding methods can now be used.