A five-year-old girl has been hailed as a hero after helping to save her father’s life by dialling 999.
Avaana helped to save her dad’s life after finding him collapsed at their home from a seizure.
Brave Avaana, who found her dad Sam on the floor and bleeding, quickly dialled 999 and spoke with London Ambulance Service call handler, Tobias, who began giving her instructions on what to do next.
Avaana followed his instructions; turning her dad over into a safe position, checking if he was breathing and staying by his side until her family and the medics arrived.
Tobias, the call handler that took Avaana’s call that day, said:
“Avaana was so calm and brave – the way she handled that incredibly stressful situation was so impressive.
“It is so important for parents to teach their children how to call 999 and what to do if they ever find them unconscious like that – it really can help save lives.
“Just knowing the address and any medical conditions can help us get an ambulance to them as quickly as possible.”
Sam, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour this year, has been on medication which, until recently, had successfully controlled the seizures that the tumour causes.
He said: “I’m just so proud of her. She somehow managed to remain calm and did everything she was told. I was unconscious for around five minutes and, when I came to, I was very confused and disorientated.
“It wasn’t really until I was in the hospital that I realised how serious it had been. I was very touched when the medics who had been at the house came to see me in A&E.
“I was much more coherent by then and it was very emotional to hear them say how amazed they were by how Avaana remained calm.”
Since his diagnosis, Sam and his family have raised over £8000 for Brain Tumour Research.
To donate click here.
The London Ambulance Service has issued some guidance for parents on what they should teach their children when it comes to dialling 999:
- How to dial 999
- Your full address including postcode – also make sure they can say anything unusual about where you live
- If you have a medical condition, talk to your child about it – including any medication you need
- Let them know how to open the front door for emergency services
- Teach them to recognise that ambulance crews wear green
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