ROXY STAR!
Six-year-old saves life of her toddler brother
A QUICK-THINKING sixyear-old saved her baby brother’s life after using first aid skills when he had a seizure.
Roxy Jones, now seven, from Llangurig, Powys, was staying with her grandparents last summer when her baby brother Harley-John, then just 23 months old, had a seizure.
This was a critical situation for the little boy and there could have been dramatic consequences – but luckily Roxy knew exactly what to do.
She removed the dummy from Harley’s mouth and put him in the recovery position while her grandparents dialled 999 for an ambu- lance. Roxy’s mother Kate Jones said: “She had him in the recovery position and knew to take his dummy out of his mouth and stayed with him so that when the ambulance came there was a familiar face.
“She was chatting with the paramedics and the first responders telling them she had been looking after her baby brother.”
Harley-John, who had previously had two other seizures, was taken to Bronglais Hospital in Aberyswyth for treatment, where he made a full recovery.
Roxy had learned her first aid skills at her local St John Badgers group in Llanidloes. She has now been presented with the Badger Life Saver award at the St John Cymru Wales’ National Youth Awards.
Kate and Roxy’s father Kevin are understandably proud of their daughter and said her life-saving action was testament to the special bond between the siblings.
She added: “It’s quite a sensitive subject, as Harley’s seizures are quite hard to watch, but we’re really proud of Roxy and we’re emotional about it in a sense. She’s very cool about it all and takes it all in her stride. She’s been in front of the school assembly and she’s a little star with it.”
Speaking about whether Roxy would want to become a doctor when she is older, Kate said: “I think so – she’s a kind and caring little girl, she’s a mother hen to everybody, and when somebody is upset she likes to care for them.”
Kate said the St John Badger programme was “fantastic” and Roxy had learned so much since joining.
She added: “If any child wants to attend something like that they should grab it with both hands.
“Obviously Roxy wouldn’t have been able to do what she did if it weren’t for St John.”
Sy Joshua, director of youth at St John Cymru Wales, said: “As soon as Harley-John became unwell Roxy sprung into action. It’s thanks to her quick-thinking and first aid skills that she was able to put her baby brother in the recovery position and look after him until the ambulance arrived.
“At St John Cymru Wales we believe that you’re never too young to learn life-saving skills and Roxy’s story demonstrates that wonderfully.
“Our Badger programme teaches children as young as five in first aid lessons that can really save a life.
“We’re delighted to hear that Harley-John made a full recovery.”