‘Nothing short of heroic’: Halkirk teen who saved dad’s life earns top award
A teenager who saved his dad’s life when he sliced his arm open doing DIY has been rewarded for his heroic actions.
But 17-year-old John Bremner from Halkirk says he is just glad he had the skills to be able to help his dad.
Now he has won a coveted award at the prestigious Scottish First Aid Awards, in recognition of saving his dad’s life following the nasty accident.
The army cadet has also been praised by his local detachment commander for his calm and composed efforts on April 1, last year.
John was at home when his dad, also called John, was laying a carpet and accidentally cut his left forearm with a Stanley knife, causing a severe four-inch full-thickness laceration. The wound bled profusely, and his father became highly distressed.
Without hesitation, John immediately went to his father’s aid. He applied pressure to the wound, elevated the arm, and laid him down on the floor.
While keeping his dad calm and reassuring him, John called for an ambulance and began to dress the wound using towels to ensure pressure was maintained. He also fashioned a sling to support his dad’s arm and keep it in the right position.
When the ambulance arrived, John insisted on accompanying his father to the hospital, continuing to provide comfort and reassurance during the journey.
Young John said: “I’m honoured to receive this award, but more importantly, I’m just glad I could be there to help my dad when he needed me most.
“First aid is a hugely valuable skill, that you never know when you might need to put into practice. I’m really glad I was able to use my skills to help my dad in this stressful situation and also very thankful to the army cadets for providing these skills.”
Halkirk detachment commander, Captain Stephen Mezals said: “Cdt CSM Bremner is a credit to the Army Cadet Force and has grown into a fantastic role model for those around him.
“Being able to administer first aid on anyone who has such a horrific injury was an amazing feat in its own right, but to do so with the added pressure of the casualty being a loved one, and to be able to remain so calm and professional, shows great courage.
“We are all so proud of Cdt CSM Bremner and all that he stands for.
“First aid is one of the core skills that we teach in the Army Cadet Force, with cadets gaining various first aid qualifications up to the standard of a First Aid at Work course. These are real-life practical skills and it’s always a profound moment when we see them being put into practice and having such positive outcomes.”
Dad John said he was proud of young John for his actions on the day and praised the work of the cadets, singling out Captain Mezals for his efforts helping young people in the county through the cadet force, including his son.
He told the Groat: “He’s been on a few different first aid training things with the cadets – and it certainly worked to his and my advantage on that occasion!
“He was pretty calm and composed and had quite a relaxed handle on the whole thing, so what he’d been learning at the cadets paid off.
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“There were 13 finalists [in the category] and 11 of them were cadets, so obviously the lessons which the cadets put across to young people is valuable not only in Caithness but across the country.”
The Scottish First Aid Awards, now in their 12th year, are organised by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity. Held on Friday evening in Glasgow, the awards saw John named Young First Aid Hero for his remarkable and selfless response during a family emergency.
Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, said: “I would like to congratulate John on his well-deserved award. His actions on that day were nothing short of heroic, and his calm, mature and timely response makes him a true example of what a young first aid hero embodies. He is a credit to himself, and I’m sure his family are beyond proud of his efforts.”
More than 350 people attended the awards which were held at Radisson Blu on Cambridge Street in Glasgow. The night was hosted by comedian Ray Bradshaw and included entertainment from X Factor star, Nicky McDonald.
More than 70 nominations across ten categories were received this year, each one highlighting an exceptional example of first aid intervention, skill or act of sharing best practice. The night also raised £23,250 for the charity, which will be invested back into its work and ongoing efforts to support communities up and down the country through demonstrations and training.
