“Confident” Cub’s reactions after crash recognised
A Dad felt “huge pride” as he watched his eight-year-old son being awarded for the way he responded after being involved in a crash.
Young Theo Bell said he was able to act “with confidence” following the crash involving his nan’s car, in which he and his sister were passengers, thanks to the first aid and emergency badges he had gained at 1st Congleton Cubs pack.
The collision happened as Claire Kasperowicz was driving Theo to school last Monday morning. After the Citroen collided with a hedge on Sweet Briar Court in Congleton, where Theo lives with his family, he put what he learnt in Cubs into action.
The Scholar Green Primary School pupil checked that his nan was alright before raising the alarm at a neighbour’s house. Fortunately, none of the three in the car were injured although Mrs Kasperowicz spent a few hours in A&E getting checked over.
As a result of his actions, Theo was presented with a Cub Scout commissioner’s commendation at the Scout hut on Worrall Street in Congleton.
Describing what happened last week, Theo said: “My nan’s car crashed into a neighbour’s hedge. I remembered my emergency first aid training from Cubs, checked my nan and little sister were ok and climbed out of the car.
I knocked on the neighbour’s door, but there was no answer so I shouted ‘Help!’ The neighbour phoned the ambulance and my school. They looked after us.”
Added Theo: “It was the lessons I have had at Cubs, getting my first aid and emergency badges, which meant I acted with confidence.”
Proud dad Matthew Bell said: “Theo came home from Cubs and said he’d got the emergency badge and the first aid badge, and these are the ones he’s most proud of.
“When he got them, he thought it was an important thing, not just a throwaway badge. He knew it was important and blow me, after a few months he’s had to use these skills!”
Mr Bell added: “I was really worried as a dad that he was going to be emotional about it all or wouldn’t know what to do. They basically went down the bank and had this crash but the way he took over, he just followed what he had learnt.”
Mr Bell described the feeling of seeing Theo awarded with certificate on Monday as “being filled with huge pride”.
“Theo wants to be the best he can be and build his character. You think, as a parent, you try and manufacture these scenarios to fill them with confidence, but there you go, there was a real situation for him last Monday! And at the age of eight…unbelievable!”
Mr Bell said that he was “grateful” that the neighbours reacted quickly: “They asked Theo which school he goes to and explained that they were looking after his nan, and somebody then took him to school. He didn’t have time to worry what was going on.” Mr Bell said the Cub Scout motto, “Be Prepared”, couldn’t be more suitable. “You’ve got to take your hat off to the Cubs for doing this for children because I think it’s unique what the movement offers to young people; this worldly experience.”
The commissioner’s commendation, presented to Theo by Ben Borg-Heffernan, the District Youth Lead Volunteer, is a local award that can be used to recognise adult and youth members of the Cub Scouts and is illustrated by a purple knot.
Pete Anderson, leader at 1st Congleton Cubs, said “We’ve talked to the other scouts about what Theo did last week. It illustrated to them that what we teach them is important – that they are skills for life.”
Theo joined 1st Congleton Scout group when its Cub section reopened in February this year following the pandemic.
The group is now looking to reopen its Scout section to be able to support more young people learn the “vital” skills for life.
(Article courtesy Congleton Chronical, 24th October 2024, Photos courtesy 1st Congleton Scout Group)