Harford County Executive Barry Glassman reunited today the family of a Bel Air toddler who nearly drowned on May 27 and the county government employees who helped save her life. The family of two-year-old Brighley Watson met with 911 Public Safety Dispatcher Brian Reid and county employee Paul DiGiacinto, who helped Brighley’s grandfather perform CPR for several harrowing minutes before the little girl was revived.
The family’s ordeal began when Jason Watson found his daughter Brighley unresponsive in their backyard pool. Jason rescued Brighley from the pool and her grandfather, Charlie Barr, called 911. While on the line with Dispatcher Reid, Charlie started CPR.
Jason then ran next door to enlist the help of his neighbor, Paul DiGiacinto. Paul works for Harford County government in the Department of Information & Communication Technology.
Following Dispatcher Reid’s precise instructions, Paul joined Charlie in performing CPR, with Paul administering two breaths after each of Charlie’s 15 compressions, for five to six minutes. Brighley was pale, her breathing was shallow and she was not responsive. At last, she began to cry.
When Bel Air Volunteer Fire/EMS arrived, they took Brighley into their care. She was transported to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Care Unit, where she was in ICU for two days. Brighley is now back home with her family where she is healthy, happy, and a big sister to the Watson’s other daughter, 10-month-old Burke.
“Thanks to everyone involved, a precious little girl was saved,” County Executive Glassman said. “I am so proud of Brighley’s family for acting quickly to call 911 and begin CPR, and proud of Brian, Paul, and the first responders from Bel Air Volunteer Fire/EMS for being there when a Harford County family needed them most.”
Harford County Department of Emergency Services provides free CPR classes throughout the year. For more information, visit the county website at http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/1721/Prepare-Because-You-Care.
