A Cadet Corporal from No.1 Company, Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force has been praised for her courage and composure after using skills learned through the Army Cadets to help save her father’s life.
Cadet Corporal Hannah Williams was at home when her father suffered a serious and prolonged epileptic seizure. Hannah heard a loud bang from elsewhere in the house before her 11-year-old sister shouted that their father was having a seizure. She immediately ran to help and found him face down on the floor, convulsing and bleeding from an injury to his head caused by the fall.
Hannah said: “At first, I screamed for Mum and burst into tears. Then I regained my composure and realised that I knew exactly how to deal with it. The priority was to turn him over and make sure his airway was clear.”
The seizure lasted for approximately seven minutes. Once it had ended, Hannah helped to place her father into the recovery position, supported his injured head, tended to a head injury – which fortunately turned out to be minor, and continued to monitor his breathing while the family waited for the ambulance.
Hannah had completed first aid training through the Army Cadet Force just three months before the incident.
When the ambulance crew arrived, Hannah was able to calmly answer questions about her father’s epilepsy, medication, previous seizures and medical history, allowing paramedics to concentrate on his immediate treatment.
Her father was initially unconscious and disorientated following the seizure, but later regained consciousness and was taken to hospital. He has since continued his recovery and has not experienced another seizure.
Hannah believes the leadership skills she has developed through cadets were as important as her first aid knowledge.
She said: “Cadets has taught me leadership and that you do not dance around the point. You deliver information clearly, directly and calmly. That was incredibly beneficial when reassuring my father and speaking to the ambulance service.”
The experience has strengthened Hannah’s interest in helping other cadets develop their first aid skills.
“It is one thing to complete the training, but having experienced something like this means I can better understand and support cadets who may face similar situations.
“I hope my experience shows that first aid training really matters. You never know when you might need to use it.”
Hannah’s actions demonstrate the practical difference that Army Cadet training can make, providing young people with the knowledge, confidence, resilience and leadership skills to respond effectively during a real emergency.
More information on cadet force first aid training is available from the Army Cadets website.
