VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Eleven days after learning CPR with her Girl Scout troop, 11-year-old Vada Carawan used the training to save her father’s life after he suffered a heart attack.
The Virginia Beach girl stepped into action late last month when her father collapsed, performing chest compressions while on the phone with 911 dispatchers. Her quick thinking and calm demeanor proved critical in keeping her father alive until paramedics arrived.
Despite the shock of the moment and the chaos of her dog trying to wake her father, Vada maintained focus and relied on the CPR techniques she had recently learned. Paramedics joined her efforts upon arrival, reviving her father and stabilizing him for transport to the hospital.
The CPR training, which took place during a Girl Scout meeting, had equipped Vada with the skills necessary to respond effectively in a life-threatening situation. Her ability to remain composed and apply the training in a real emergency was key to her father’s survival.
Her father is now in the hospital and recovering, while Vada has been praised by family and community members for her life-saving actions.