Brave 11-year-old girl saves little brother's life

by Simon Boyle. Published Tue 02 Feb 2010 15:12

An 11-year-old girl has been hailed a hero after saving her little brother's life, using a first aid technique she learnt at school.

Quick-thinking Milly Cadman sprang into action and used the Heimlich manouevre on 9-year-old brother Max, as he choked during a family meal on Monday night.

Just three weeks earlier Milly, a Year 6 pupil at St Aiden's C of E Primary School, Billinge, attended a day-long first aid course.

The youngster was taught how to perform various first aid techniques including the Heimlich manoeuvre and CPR.

Headteacher Melanie Ravenscroft said: "We're all so proud of Milly, and it just shows how valuable basic first aid skills can be.

"She was absolutely brilliant and didn't panic at all, and instantly delivered the vital first aid which Max needed.

"I'm quite sure that Milly's quick reactions saved Max's life.

"Thank goodness she had received the first aid training."

The 'Heart Start' courses, run by the British Heart Foundation, give youngsters confidence-building lessons, so that they know exactly how to respond in an emergency.

Milly enjoyed her first aid course so much that she volunteered to be a "First Aid Buddy" by keeping a lookout for accidents at playtimes, but this was her first real-life emergency.

The brave youngster said: "I panicked a bit at first, but then I just remembered what I'd been taught on the course.

"I got behind Max and bent him forward, then reached around with my hands in front of his tummy like they taught us, and it worked first time.

"It was a bit harder to do than I thought. We had only practiced on a doll on the course, so it was a lot different doing it on my little brother.

"I just knew I had to help him quickly, and I'm proud of what I did."

Milly's proud mum, Louisa, 34, said: "I was still in a state of panic, but Milly acted instantly.

"I'm incredibly proud of her. I knew she'd been on a first aid course in school recently, but I had no idea how valuable it would become."

The Mum-of-two, who works as a teacher at the same school, added: "She's become hooked on helping people, and now she's talking about becoming a paramedic."

Kevin Fitzpatrick, who organises the "Heart Start" courses for the British Heart Foundation said: "It's fantastic to see this training proving so successful.

"We have a motto for our courses, 'Simple Skills Save Lives', and Milly has really proved that with her quick-thinking.

"We would really like to see basic first aid introduced in schools as part of the curriculum, so that all children could benefit from these skills.

"We will be recommending Milly for our achievement award, which recognises youngsters who have shown amazing bravery and skill as a result of their first aid training.

"Milly and her family should be incredibly proud of her."