Thirty-one brave young Victorians have been honoured for showing courage and bravery beyond their years at the 14th Annual Junior Triple Zero Hero Awards.
Among the award winners was little hero, Aoife. Aged just five, Aoife called triple zero when her mother collapsed and stopped breathing. She was able to administer CPR before help arrived.
Four-year-old Charlotte called triple zero when her mother fell, injured her hip and was unable to move. She was able to explain the situation to the operator and cared for her mother until paramedics arrived.
Another junior hero, Trinity, was on a drive with her mother when the side of the road started to collapse as they did a U-turn. While Trinity escaped, the car fell 30 metres down a cliff with her mother inside. Remaining calm, she called triple zero and provided vital details to the operator.
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Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino and Minister for Health Jill Hennessy attended today’s awards and congratulated the young people for remaining calm and calling triple zero in emergency situations that would have rattled most adults.
“Every year I am overwhelmed by the bravery and courage these young people show at the scene of emergencies, often involving their loved ones,” Merlino said.
Junior Triple Zero Heroes are nominated by Victoria’s Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority’s (ESTA) triple zero operators.
ESTA receives emergency calls for the CFA, MFB, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and State Emergency Service (SES).
In the 2016-17 financial year, ESTA answered more than 2.5 million calls for assistance across Victoria, an average of almost 7000 calls each day or a call every 12 seconds.
“These little Victorian heroes stay calm in situations where many adults would not have been able to – in doing so they’ve showcased bravery that all Victorians should be proud of,” Hennessy said.
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