St John Ambulance Victoria recognises first aid ‘superheroes’

Emilie Hook, 6, dreams of being a paramedic after helping her mum save her little sister’s life after finding her “blue and not breathing”.

Little lifesaver Emilie Hook has been recognised alongside 10 other Victorian first aid “superheroes”, for her efforts to help revive her asthmatic little sister.

The six-year-old from Ballarat – who dreams of becoming a paramedic – was named Junior First Aid Champion at a St John Ambulance Victoria awards ceremony on Wednesday.

In May last year, Emilie’s mum, Amy Gamble, woke to find her then-three-year-old daughter, Ella, “blue, not breathing and unresponsive”.

Her screams woke Emilie, then aged five, who used the DRSABCD action plan to help Ms Gamble gather Ella’s asthma supplies. Emilie then called triple-0 while Ms Gamble performed CPR.

Once Ella had regained consciousness, Emilie helped roll her into the recovery position, assisted as Ms Gamble administered a Ventolin inhaler, and prepared for the paramedics’ arrival.

Emilie Hook (right), 6, helped mum Amy Gamble save her little sister, Ella. Picture: Mark Stewart

Emilie was “proud” to help her sister, and now wants to be a paramedic. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I’m a first aider for St John so I’ve been teaching the girls a few things – we play games, like doing CPR on a pillow,” Ms Gamble said. “I don’t know how I would have done it myself.”

Emilie said she “felt proud” to be able to help her sister. “(I want to become) a paramedic because I like helping people,” she said.

Another Ballarat resident, Matt Cash, was crowned Overall First Aid Champion for 2022, in addition to CPR Champion, for saving the life of his good friend, Dave, after finding him unconscious.

Geelong’s Michelle Jalocha was named St John Volunteer First Aid Champion.

In March, Ms Jalocha was volunteering at a gig in Melbourne when she noticed a patron, Jessica, looked unwell and disorientated.

Michelle Jalocha, a St John volunteer from Geelong, provided reassurance and support to a stranger, Jessica, at an event. Picture: Mark Stewart

Jessica says Michelle “changed her life”. Picture: Mark Stewart

“She came back to the first aid tent and was having panic attacks,” Ms Jalocha said.

“We gave her medication to help calm her down and called an ambulance, but they couldn’t get there too quickly so we stayed with her … until after the concert.”

Ms Jalocha guided Jessica in breathing and distraction techniques, while providing reassurance and support. Jessica said this “put me at ease”.

“Michelle gave me a lot of information about what was happening,” Jessica said.

“Just her presence was very calming. She did change my life – I think about her quite a bit.”

Ms Jalocha – who has a background nursing, specialising in drugs, alcohol and mental health – said her year and a half as a volunteer had been “humbling and rewarding”, and the award was the cherry on top.

The 2022 St John Ambulance First Aid Champions and honourable mentions.

Another Geelong-based volunteer, Jacqueline Rusnak, earned an honourable mention in the category for helping a patient suffering a seizure.

The other First Aid Champions were Eltham’s Lachlan Shepherd (Youth category), Glenroy’s Kathleen Johnson (Community), Casey’s Danon Osmanovic (Workplace) and Geelong’s Michelle Jalocha (St John Volunteer), while five others received honourable mentions.

The winners were chosen from 60 nominations.

St John Ambulance Victoria chief executive Gordon Botwright, hailed the “true superheroes” while encouraging all Victorians to learn first aid to help save lives.

stjohnvic.com.au