An 11-year-old Girl Scout in Virginia is being hailed a hero for saving her father's life by performing CPR on him after he suffered a heart attack.
Vada Carawan had just learned CPR with her Girl Scout troop 11 days before her father suffered his life-threatening event, WAVY reported. She was able to perform chest compressions on her dad while on the phone with a dispatcher.
"It's kind of hard to put into words because it was so scary," the young Girl Scout told WAVY. "I think I was a little weaker because it's not the same doing it on a dummy because it’s not your dad."
With the help of paramedics, they were able to revive her father before he was taken to the hospital.
Vada's quick thinking and actions have been praised, and she encourages other young kids to believe in their abilities to accomplish anything.
"I was actually the only person in my whole class to successfully save our dummy because when you do CPR, the dummy has lights, and if it's green, you're doing it correctly, going deep enough and all that, and you have the right amount of strength," she told WAVY.
"I definitely don't think you're too young for anything," Vada added. "I think you can accomplish anything you put your mind to."
Vada's father is currently in the hospital recovering, and the family is raising money for his medical bills.
In a message on the family's GoFundMe account, they urge everyone to "teach and learn CPR as early as possible."
"Vada proved that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference," the statement says. "You never know when you'll be called to act, and the skills you learn today could save a life tomorrow."