TWO teenage St John Ambulance volunteers have been honoured for assisting people in need of medical help.

Rebekah and Lauryn Durnall, 16 and 14, helped a woman drifting in and out of consciousness and victims of a car crash, respectively.

The Abingdon youngsters, who volunteer in Wantage, have received certificates from the charity for their efforts.

Rebekah, 16, was waking home from her maths GCSE exam at Fitzharrys School, Abingdon, on June 9 when she saw a woman who needed help.

The woman, in Margaret Brown Gardens, was drifting in and out of consciousness after a medication change.

The teenager helped the lady lie down on a bench and waited with her until an NHS ambulance arrived. She later got a thank-you card from the woman.

The cadet of two years said: “I wasn’t sure if I should help at first, I didn’t know if they needed assistance.

“But it turned out that they did, and the ambulance took quite a while to come so I kept talking to them and helping them. I feel a bit proud that I helped her.”

Then, on July 19, Lauryn and mum Kerry were driving to Birmingham when they saw a three-car collision on the A34 north Abingdon flyover.

She helped her mum, who is a nurse, carry out initial assessments of the drivers, helped break up a fight between the parties and waited until the ambulance arrived.

The Fitzharrys pupil said: “It was not the calmest situation I have been in but I think I did quite well.”

Lauryn, who wants to be a paramedic, said: “Being a cadet gives me something valuable to put on my CV, especially when I start applying for my paramedic science degree.

“And I already know by doing first aid duties at local events that I really enjoy the type of work.”

The girls’ mother said: “I am so proud of them.”

Cadet unit manager Christine Warboys said: “Lauryn and Rebekah are both wonderful role models and have shown how stepping in and using their first aid can help and reassure those who need it.”

 

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