BBC Breakfast hosts Charlie Stayt and Sarah Campbell were impressed as a mum told how her toddler called for help when she passed out. As mum Georgia, from Doncaster, appeared on the show and told how three-year-old James had called 999 when she collapsed, BBC presenter Sarah said it was "amazing".
Mum's collapse and son's quick thinking
Georgia had been at home looking after James and her five-month-old daughter, Elodie, when she became unwell. She passed out and when she woke up, her son was on the phone with the emergency services.
The mum had the idea to teach James how to call for help after a trip to the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield, which had "a section where children can use magnetic numbers to learn how to dial 999, but also 101 as well".
Hosts praise the toddler
"You just can't have known, can you, that teaching him how to do that, that it was going to be so necessary so quickly, but thank goodness you did," said Sarah, who told viewers that James had been "hailed a hero".
"I'm just wondering whether you've got any thoughts for other parents maybe watching this? It's never too young to teach your children what to do in case something happens."
Advice for other parents
Georgia replied: "There is no age limit. I mean, when we first taught James, he must have been not older than kind of two and a half, and he was able to kind of do it on my phone, I think, with enough repetition... in sort of a casual way so it doesn't scare them. It's key, really."
Part of the 999 call was played on the programme, with James heard telling the call handler that he couldn't wake his mum up, as she advised him to tickle her to see if it roused her. Georgia was then heard on the line, with the call handler explaining that her son had called for help.
Address recall praised
During the segment, Charlie asked James about what he had done and praised him for being able to share his address so that emergency services could attend to his mum. "James, you did really well, and I bet your parents are very proud of you," said the TV star.
BBC Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One.
