Grateful for Off-Duty Paramedic’s Fast Help

* On a recent afternoon I was in the Encino Eatery with two children that I care for in my job as a nanny. In a split second the 2-year-old pulled a cup of hot water onto her face and chest. An off-duty paramedic immediately ran up to me as I was carrying the child to a sink for cold water. He said, “I am a paramedic. Please let me help you.”

After he had applied the cold water and ice, he checked her mouth for swelling and took her pulse. He then called the on-duty paramedics for me. When they arrived with the ambulance, they checked her mouth and took her pulse and said all that was left to do was to drive us to the Sherman Oaks Burn Center.

He had stayed with us the whole time, and as we were leaving, he handed me a card with his name, Frank Minitella, and asked me to call and let him know how the child was doing.

As it turns out, the doctors say that it should not scar.

Chelsea and I thank Mr. Minitella from the bottom of our hearts.

BONNIE HICKS

Beverly Hills