‘I passed out in the car with my kids in the back’ – why even young children need to know what to do in an emergency

We all want to protect children from the scarier side of life, but what if something happens to their caregiver? Niamh O’Reilly shares her personal experience, and gets expert advice on dealing with the aftermath and age-appropriate preparation techniques

Niamh O'Reilly had seconds to prepare before she lost consciousness on a busy school morning. Photo: Arthur Carron

Last June, I passed out behind the wheel of the car with my then four- and seven-year-old sons in the back seat. I’d suffered a ruptured ovarian cyst, and the pain was so acute it caused me to faint, with just seconds to try and ensure my children were safe.

I’d been suffering with ovarian cysts for a coupl

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