Commendation for scout who gave first aid to 94-year-old woman

Tuesday, 30 May 2023 17:08

A Flackwell Heath Scout has been awarded a Commissioner’s Commendation for her calm thinking and administering first aid.

Florence Hodges was walking home from school and she heard a cry for help.

She looked over a garden wall and saw an elderly lady lying in her garden.

Florence noticed the lady had a cut to her head and it was bleeding quite heavily. Having done some first aid training with Scouts a few weeks previously she took charge of the incident.

She asked a friend to get a wet tea towel and she applied pressure to the wound. She then phoned the emergency services and although the lady was not keen on going to hospital, Florence advised her this was the best thing so the wound could be treated.

After the paramedics arrived and treated the lady, one of them phoned Florence’s mother. He told her how remarkably calm Florence had been and she had done everything right, including reassuring the lady and managing the whole situation.

Florence was awarded a County Commissioner’s Commendation for putting the skills she had learnt through Scouts into action.

Emma King, lead volunteer for Cub Scouts in Buckinghamshire, presented the award to Florence at a Scout meeting. Emma said, “Scouting provides children, young people and adults with lots of fun and it also teaches them skills for life. These include cooking, teamwork, camping, learning about different cultures and first aid.” She added, “

Florence was 11 when she took charge of the incident. Many adults would not have known what to do, but Florence used her skills and knowledge to help the lady.”

For more information about scouts please visit www.scouts.org.uk/join