Quick response by hospital, traffic cops saves infant

Nagpur: On World Health Day, quick response by a city hospital and traffic cops saved a five-day-old infant after a freak mishap.
The infant, suffering from critical complications, was being shifted from Amravati to Nagpur when the neonatal care ambulance carrying him on a ventilator met with an accident at Law College Square. Luckily, the baby in the ventilator escaped unhurt in the mishap.

With the ambulance out of action, relatives urged Nelson Hospital, where the baby was to be admitted, to send a replacement. When city traffic cops were alerted, they cleared the roads for the ambulance, allowing the baby to be shifted within 15 minutes.

“The baby boy was already critical and on ventilator. While shifting, we had to remove him from ventilator for a few moments. This was crucial period but he survived. It took us another few minutes to revive him in hospital. His condition is still critical but we are hopeful it will improve,” said Dr Anand Bhutada, expert of paediatric critical care at Nelson Hospital. Even a few more minutes could have proved fatal, he added.

The baby’s father Sajid Khan Rashid Khan works with Nagpur city police as a constable. “My son was born five days ago in Amravati with serious complications, and referred to Nagpur,” he said. After Khan informed local traffic cops, they ensured the ambulance got a clear road.

“Everyone acted immediately. As my son has reached hospital and survived so far, I am now praying with more confidence for his well-being,” he said.