Dying mum saved by Cub Scout son’s prompt emergency aid

It was 7.45am one Tuesday in February and mum Sarah Sharpe lay dying behind the locked door of the bathroom of their Luton home having suffered a cardiac arrest. She was drifting in and out of consciousness and had little more than a slim chance of surviving.

But 10-year old Cub Scout Kai knew exactly what to do. Just the week before at a Cub meeting he had been taught the first five steps in emergency aid and he calmly took charge. He ushered his six year old brother Alex into the living room where he sat demanding his breakfast and dialed 999 for the emergency services.

The operator asked, “Are you ringing the right number?” Kai explained, “My mum is lying in the locked bathroom and she’s not breathing or talking.” The operator said, “Listen carefully. Open the front door and let the paramedics in when they arrive. They won’t be long.”

Kai went on, “I went back to mum to talk to her and tell her that help was coming. Then, twenty seconds later a paramedic arrived, kicked the door down and gave mum shock treatment.”   He added, “Before long two more paramedics arrived followed by the police. Then the air ambulance landed on the common just behind the house. Suddenly the place was full of all these big important house guests and still Alex was wanting his breakfast.”

According to the paramedics Kai’s prompt action saved his mum’s life after she had a cardiac arrest. They were able to restart her heart and take her, still unconscious, to Lister hospital for treatment. She is now back home fully recovered but with a special cuddle for her hero son.

Glen Still the Leader of Luton’s Ross Park Tiger Cubs said, “We are all extremely proud of Kai and it’s amazing how he calmly followed what he had been told. It goes to show that it’s worth spending time teaching children how to do these things. Some people may think they are not capable but they clearly are and they keep their cool.”

District Commissioner Mark Webb presented Kai with a bravery award in front of a parade of over 300 Scouts. He said, “Kai was amazing with his quick thinking and calm reaction to his mum’s sudden collapse. It shows the value of first aid training to anyone however young since you never know when you might need to put it into practice. We are all proud of what he did and hope he has lots of fun and adventure in the future as a Scout.”

Kai’s father Tim added, “The whole family are incredibly proud of what Kai has done and his quick reaction that morning in February. We owe the Cub Leaders a great deal for the important training they give our kids in all kinds of things including how to react calmly in emergency. It’s just wonderful.

“We went to Lister Hospital in nearby Stevenage not knowing whether we’d ever speak to Sarah again. Today, because the medical profession do such an amazing job, and because she is such a fighter, Sarah is at home with a magic box (actually an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, but magic box sounds better) in her chest, mostly recovered, and looking forward to getting back to work.”

He went on, “Thank you for all of the flowers, gifts, kind messages, thoughts, prayers and best wishes we’ve received from so many of you over the last few weeks. You’ve been amazing too, and we’re humbled to have received so much support.”

Footnote:

The Stage 1 of the Emergency Aid Activity Badge that Kai passed has five crucial actions: the importance of getting help; what you say when you call 999; helping someone who is unconscious; helping someone who is bleeding and reassuring someone at the scene of an emergency.