A Girl Scout from Virginia took action and saved her father’s life using CPR – a technique she had learned a few days earlier.
Vada Carawan, 11, had performed CPR on a manikin during training sessions with her Virginia Beach Girl Scout troop just 11 days before the terrifying incident.
But any doubts she had about her abilities were put aside when her father, Clint, suffered 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. WAVY.
The brave daughter fought through her tears to help her father. While calling 911, Vada began performing chest compressions on her father until paramedics arrived at their home.
The efforts of Vada and paramedics revived her father before he was taken to hospital, where he continues to recover.
According to one GoFundMe created to support Vada’s family and Clint’s recovery, Vada noticed that her father had been feeling unwell all day, prompting her to stay by his side.
Vada’s mother, Amanda, wrote: ‘He was tired all day and by the end of the afternoon he was experiencing pain in his left arm.
Vada Carawan, 11, and her mother, Amanda, described the shocking moment Clint had a heart attack and the Girl Scout used her CPR training to save his life
Vada noticed her father had been feeling unwell all day and immediately called 911 and began chest compressions as he fell to the ground
Vada learned CPR with her Girl Scout troop just eleven days before putting her practice to the test
“Vada remembered him once saying this could be a warning sign of a heart attack, and her concern grew.”
Clint stayed in the bathroom longer than usual, so Vada called to make sure he was okay.
But he left the bathroom shaking, grabbing his dresser before falling to the floor.
Vada said even her dog, Maggie, “freaked out” when he collapsed.
Amanda added, “Through 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 “amazing” she is.
‘And he’s right. Vada is not just any little girl. She’s a lifesaver.’
According to GoFundMe, Clint was first rushed to Virginia Beach General Hospital before being airlifted to Norfolk Heart Hospital.
Vada told WAVY that she was the only Girl Scout in her troop to successfully “save the doll” during the CPR class.
She said resuscitating a real person — let alone her own father — was very different from what she did.
Vada said, “It’s kind of hard to put into words because it was so scary.
“I think I was a little weaker because it’s not the same when you do it on a doll because it’s not your dad.”
Amanda said Clint is Vada’s hero every day and by helping save his life, Vada could become his
Vada and her family encourage everyone to learn CPR, regardless of age, citing the fact that the 11-year-old 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 for anything. I think you can achieve anything you put your mind to.”
Amanda echoed this sentiment on the GoFundMe page.
Vada’s mother wrote: ‘We especially want to share a message with everyone: educate and learn CPR as early as possible.
‘Vada has proven that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference. You never know when you will be called to action, and the skills you learn today could save a life tomorrow.”
Amanda told the outlet that Clint is Vada’s hero every day, but “she had to be his hero” when she helped him survive his heart attack.