‘It Made a Difference’: Roadside CPR Saves the Life of a 7-Week-Old Baby Girl
A seven-week-old baby girl is alive today because two strangers—Geraldina Carvalho and David McEvoy—trusted their instincts, stopped their vehicles, and immediately began CPR on the side of an Ottawa road. Their quick actions made all the difference.
You can read the full original CBC article here:
‘It made a difference’: roadside CPR keeps baby girl alive
A Critical Moment on St. Laurent Boulevard
Around 3:15 p.m., while driving home from her shift at the Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre, personal support worker Geraldina Carvalho noticed a small crowd gathered along St. Laurent Boulevard. A woman holding her baby caught her attention—something was clearly wrong.
When she approached, the infant’s skin was purple, and her heartbeat was dangerously slow.
“I don’t feel a pulse… her heart was beating very slow,” Carvalho recalled.
Without hesitation, she began CPR.
A CPR Instructor Arrives and Steps In
Minutes later, bylaw officer and CPR instructor David McEvoy happened to be driving past. He recognized the urgency of the situation, pulled over, and immediately took over chest compressions.
“I ventilated, did the chest compressions. It felt like forever,” McEvoy said.
The baby briefly started moving, then went limp again. Carvalho and McEvoy continued several rounds of CPR until the baby’s chest finally began to rise and fall again—just moments before paramedics arrived.
Thanks to their quick actions, the infant survived.
Two Strangers United by the Instinct to Help
After emergency responders took over, Carvalho and McEvoy went home, anxiously watching the news for updates. They had never met before that day, yet shared the same instinct to act.
When they learned the baby was going to be okay, they were relieved.
“I’m glad I stopped and I did the right thing,” Carvalho said.
“Do something. It made a difference,” McEvoy added.
Their shared message is clear: anyone can help—but only if they know what to do.
Why CPR Training Matters
Emergencies can happen anywhere—at home, at work, or even on the roadside. In moments like these, CPR can double or triple the chances of survival.
Learning CPR gives you the skills and confidence to act quickly, including how to:
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Perform effective chest compressions
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Provide ventilations
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Use an AED
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Respond to infant, child, and adult emergencies
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Stay calm when every second counts
Even basic knowledge can make a life-saving difference.
If you want to learn CPR or refresh your skills, you can explore CPR and AED training options here:
👉 https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
Be Prepared. Learn to Save a Life.
If you want the confidence to help during an emergency, consider enrolling in a first aid or CPR course. You never know when you might be the person someone desperately needs.
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