11-year-old uses Girl Scouts lesson to save her father’s life, Virginia family says
Frightened and teary-eyed, an 11-year-old used a lesson from a recent Girl Scouts troop meeting to save her dad’s life, a Virginia family said.
Vada Carawan performed CPR on her dad, Clint Carawan, after he collapsed in their home Nov. 23 during a medical emergency, Amanda Carawan, Vada’s mom, told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
“In a moment that could have changed our lives forever, her bravery and love shone so brightly. Her quick thinking is the only reason he’s still here with us,” Amanda Carawan said in a Nov. 25 Facebook post.
Earlier in the day, the dad mentioned not feeling well to his daughter, which concerned her, Vada told McClatchy News. After going into the bathroom, he came out looking unwell and collapsed on to the floor.
That’s when Vada called 911 for help, she said.
“It’s kind of indescribable because of how crazy and scary it was,” Vada said, adding that even her dog was freaked out, putting her paw on Clint Carawan to try to wake him.
A dispatcher helped guide Vada through chest compressions until paramedics arrived, she said. Luckily, Vada had learned how to perform CPR just days before at a Girl Scouts troop meeting.
“With her tiny hands, she worked tirelessly, following every instruction, staying calm until the paramedics arrived,” Amanda Carawan said in an online fundraiser.
“I knew I couldn’t fall apart while doing this because I needed to save my dad,” Vada said. “That was the main priority.”
The paramedics arrived to find Clint Carawan unresponsive and resuscitated him twice to get his heart beating again, Amanda Carawan said.
Paramedics then took Clint Carawan to the Virginia Beach General Hospital to stabilize him, and he was later airlifted to Norfolk Heart Hospital before being released Dec. 2, Carawan said.
“Sometimes heroes come in the smallest packages, with the tiniest but very capable hands,” Amanda Carawan said in a Facebook post.
This story was originally published December 3, 2024 at 9:01 AM with the headline "11-year-old uses Girl Scouts lesson to save her father’s life, Virginia family says."
