A Virginia Girl Scout sprang into action and saved her father’s life using CPR, a technique she had learned just days before.
Vada Carawan, 11, had only performed CPR on a dummy during training sessions with her Virginia Beach Girl Scout troop 11 days before the terrifying incident.
But any doubts he had about his abilities were put to rest when his father, Clint, began suffering a heart attack on November 23.
“At first, I thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do CPR,’ but apparently I can,” said Vada, whose birthday was four days earlier. CURLY.
The brave daughter fought through tears to help her father. While calling 911, Vada began performing chest compressions on her father until paramedics arrived at her home.
The efforts of Vada and the paramedics revived her father before he was taken to the hospital, where he is still recovering.
According to a GoFundMe Made to support Vada’s family and Clint’s recovery, Vada noticed that her father had not been feeling well all day, prompting her to stay by his side.
Vada’s mother, Amanda, wrote: ‘He had been tired all day and in the late afternoon he mentioned pain in his left arm.
Vada Carawan, 11, and her mother, Amanda, described the shocking moment Clint suffered a heart attack and the Girl Scout used her CPR training to save his life.
Vada noticed that her father had not been feeling well all day and immediately called 911 and began chest compressions when he fell to the ground.
Vada learned CPR with her Girl Scout troop just 11 days before putting her practice to the test.
“Vada remembered that he once said that this could be a warning sign of a heart attack, and her concern grew.”
Clint was taking longer than usual in the bathroom, so Vada called to make sure he was okay.
But he shakily walked out of the bathroom and grabbed onto his dresser before falling to the floor.
Vada said even her dog, Maggie, was “scared” when she collapsed.
Amanda added: “Throughout all of this, Clint has one thing on his mind: his daughter. Every time someone mentions Vada, he lights up, calls her his ‘angel’ and says how ‘fantastic’ she is.
And he is right. Vada is not just a girl. She’s a lifesaver.’
Clint was rushed to Virginia Beach General Hospital before being airlifted to Norfolk Heart Hospital, according to GoFundMe.
Vada told WAVY that she was the only Girl Scout in her troop who managed to “save the dummy” during the CPR course.
She said performing CPR on a real person, much less her own father, was very different from what she practiced.
Vada said: “It’s a little hard to put into words because it was so scary.”
“I think I was a little weaker because it’s not the same to do it with a doll that’s not your dad.”
Amanda said that Clint is Vada’s hero every day and by helping save his life, Vada became his
Vada and her family encourage everyone to learn CPR regardless of their age, citing the fact that the 11-year-old girl was able to save her father.
The young Girl Scout encouraged everyone to learn this essential technique that could save someone’s life.
She told WAVY: ‘I definitely don’t think you’re too young at all. I believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to.’
Amanda reiterated this sentiment on the GoFundMe page.
Vada’s mother wrote: ‘Above all, we want to share one message with everyone: teach and learn CPR as soon as possible.
‘Vada proved that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference. You never know when you’ll be called into action and the skills you learn today could save a life tomorrow.’
Amanda told the outlet that Clint is Vada’s everyday hero, but “she got to be his hero” when she helped him survive his heart attack.