Young first aider of the Year award winners 2010

Ashley Ames - St John Ambulance Cadet
Aged 10

In January 2010, Ashley was playing outside with his younger sister when his father, who was on the roof taking down the Christmas lights, slipped and fell backwards, landing heavily on the drive, knocking himself unconscious.

Ashley, and his mother who was also outside at the time, put his father in the recovery position. He then ran upstairs to retrieve blankets, to keep his dad warm, and to find his mum's mobile phone so she could call for an ambulance.

Ashley's younger sister, who suffers from heart problems, had witnessed everything as it happened and was understandably upset. Ashley managed to calm her down and made sure she was safe in a neighbour's house. His grandparents arrived soon after and were also upset; again Ashely took it upon himself to reassure them that an ambulance was on its way. 

Many of Ashley's neighbours commented on how he handled the situation with a maturity beyond his years.

Ashley's father broke several ribs, crushed his elbow and had concussion, he was off work for many weeks. During this time Ashley was on hand to aid his father's recovery.

Micah Bailey - St John Ambulance Badger
Aged 5

In October 2010, while out shopping with his mother in their local supermarket, Micah came across a woman lying in one of the aisles.

Micah asked his mother to check to see if she responded and to open her airway and check her breathing. He then ensured that someone had called an ambulance and the stores' first aiders. 

Micah then explained how to put the lady into the recovery position, much to the bemusement of passers-by and store staff. 

Isobel Brookes - Air Training Corps (Awarded the Meritorious Service Certificate and Bar)
Aged 17

On 2 November 2010, Isobel witnessed one of her friends from college lose control of his mountain bike causing him to crash through a metal fence and drop onto the roadway some 6.8 metres below. 

She went over to him and undertook a primary survey. The boy, named Ben, was lying face down on the roadway; he was unresponsive but breathing well but also bleeding from a head injury. He had numerous abrasions and despite a length of metal railing having embedded itself between his ribs in the lower right side of his chest, he was not bleeding .

As he was breathing well, Isobel elected not to put him into the recovery position but maintained his airways by immobilising his head and neck. Ben intermittently recovered consciousness and tried to push himself off the ground. Isobel encouraged him to stay where he was and continued to reassure him.

Isobel stayed with Ben until the arrival of the ambulance crew and was transferred to North Devon Hospital where he was later airlifted to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Savannah Fitzgerald
Aged 5

Savannah's mother, Donna has severe brittle asthma and an attack can be fatal and occur without warning.

Savannah was at home in October 2010 when her mother had an attack. Usually she calls her nana when her mother is unwell but perhaps sensed there was not enough time and  dialled 999.

When Donna arrived at the hospital she was unconscious and had to be ventilated in intensive care. 

Amazingly Savannah was only four when she first used CPR on her mother. This was only after watching her nana do it on a previous occasion.

Thomas Garnett - Air Training Corps
Aged 14

In March 2010, Thomas' mother, Yvonne, tripped and fell down the stairs, her left arm and head taking the full impact of the fall.

Thomas who was upstairs at the time heard his mother fall. He immediately came to her aid, took charge of the situation and told her, 'not to move an inch,' while instructing his father to call 999. Then protected her badly damaged arm with blankets and placed a cushion under her head to aid her breathing.

Thomas was calm, constantly reassured his mother and kept her talking in order to keep her awake. Only when the ambulance arrived did Thomas step away from her side to allow the paramedics to take over.

Yvonne needed two operations on her arm, and she suffered severe bruising to the face.

Josh Glastonbury
Aged 18

On Christmas Eve 2010, Gillian, Josh's mother was driving home with Josh and his girlfriend Kim.

While driving, Gillian suddenly became unwell and the car began to drift to the left. Josh thought his mother was pulling over to let pain pass and initially didn't react. But as the car kept veering left, he realised something was wrong - she had passed out at the wheel. He grabbed the steering wheel and stepped across to put his foot on the brake, bringing the car to a stop.

He pulled his mother from the car and immediately checked for a pulse. Unable to find one he started to perform CPR. Josh and Kim managed to flag down a passing car to use a mobile phone to call for an ambulance. Josh continued to perform CPR until the first responder arrived.

Gillian had suffered a major heart attack and was taken to hospital where she had to stay for a month before been allowed home.

Josh was later told by the paramedics his mother would not have survived if he had not performed CPR at the side of the road.

Jackie Heywood - St John Ambulance Cadet
Aged 15

In October 2010, Jackie, a member of the Sprowston Cadet Unit was about to leave the house to attend her weekly First Aid class when she heard a loud crash. 

She ran outside to discover a woman bloodied and injured in the middle of the road after being hit by a car. Jackie immediately applied pressure to a wound on the back of the casualty's head. The casualty kept touching her neck and shoulder indicating she was in pain so Jackie supported her neck by putting her hands on either side of her face and neck. The lady was very distressed and clung to Jackie.

Another bystander at the scene called an ambulance and when paramedics arrived they told Jackie to continue supporting the casualty as they administered medication and got her onto a spinal board.

The casualty was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and it is believed she suffered a brain bleed and broken neck but is now recovering in hospital. Jackie has since been told if it weren't for her swift actions in the moments following the crash, things could have been much worse.

Sophie Heald
Aged 9

Sophie was at home with her mother in March 2010 when her mother was scalded by an exploding hot water bottle.

The water splashed over her lower neck and chest. Under Sophie's guidance and insistence her mother's wet clothing was removed. Sophie placed cold wet tea towels on her chest.

She remembered everything she'd been taught by her St John Ambulance instructor at Infant School and didn't hesitate in putting her knowledge into practise.

Alistair Hutton and Jordan Jack - Army Cadet Force
Aged 14 and 16

In November 2010. Alistair and Jordan were waiting at the bus station when they were approached by Leonard Welsh for the bus times.

A bus pulled into the terminal and a short while later Mr Welsh attempted to board the bus.

Mr Welsh was refused entry onto the bus, which drove off at speed resulting in him being thrown to the ground and becoming trapped between the kerb and the bus.

Alistair and Jordan witnessed the rear wheels of the bus drive over the man's legs. They immediately went to assist him. Alistair maintained crowd control allowing Jordan to administer first aid, passing information back to Alistair and a bystander who called the emergency services. 

Jordan and Jack reassured Mr Welsh and kept his head steady fearing he might be suffering from spinal injuries. When the paramedics arrived both boys briefed them while continuing to reassure Mr Welsh and assisting the paramedics in placing Mr Welsh onto a spinal board. Mr Welsh was transferred to hospital.

He sustained a fractured femur and patella on one leg and fracture of the tibia, fibula and patella on the other leg as well as an open fracture to the thumb. He was in intensive care for some considerable time and unfortunately had to have a leg amputated.

The Police noted how both Alistair and Jordan had kept their calm and took control of the situation until the emergency services arrived on scene.

2011 winners from 11-20.