Four years old is a special age. As a parent, you’ve survived the “terrible twos,” and you’ve successfully managed a “threenager.” Four is a time when independence totally starts to shine. No longer a toddler, kiddos are learning new things every day, and even teaching us a thing or two!
Four-year-old twins Roman and Samuel Sharma are being credited with saving their mother’s life. It’s all because they knew something that you can (and should) teach your child today.
Earlier in March, Claudia Sharma collapsed in her London home. Roman and Samuel found their mother unconscious and quickly jumped into action.
Using Claudia’s thumb, the twins were able to unlock their mother’s iPhone, then asked automated assistant, Siri, for help. The function triggered a call to 999 and contacted London emergency services.
Roman identified himself to the operator and explained why he couldn’t put his mother on the phone:
Roman: “She can’t, she’s dead.”
999: “You said mummy was there, what do you mean she’s dead?”
Roman: “It means that she’s closing her eyes and she’s not breathing.”
The operator remained calm and talked to the boys. Knowing that they were young, she asked if they knew where they lived.
That was the lifesaver—Roman communicated his address to the operator and within 13 minutes, emergency crews were at their house. They used forced entry to get in, and found Claudia unconscious on the floor with Roman, Samuel and their little brother, Luca, safely inside.
Paramedics administered life-saving first aid and revived her on scene before transporting her to a hospital.
In a statement, Chief Superintendent Ade Adelekan of the Metropolitan Police said that he hopes the twins’ actions will serve as an important reminder to other parents:
“If you do nothing else today, then I’d implore any parents of young children to sit down with them and make sure they know what to do in this kind of situation and that they know how to contact police or other emergency services in an emergency. As this case demonstrates so poignantly, it could really be the difference between life and death.”
The chief added a few words of praise for the brave twins who saved their mama’s life: