It’s hard to imagine being just a kid, and suddenly, you’re smack in the middle of an emergency situation.
What would you do?
For Salvatore Cicalese, a 5-year-old boy from San Tan Valley, Arizona, this wasn’t a hypothetical question.
This little guy faced a real crisis and, believe it or not, he became his family’s hero.
It was an ordinary night, with Salvatore and his baby sister asleep.
But then, a weird noise from the bathroom changed everything.
Salvatore found his mom, Kaitlyn, out cold in the shower.
Now, most kids would be scared stiff in a situation like this, but not Salvatore.
He kept his cool and knew exactly what he had to do.
The boy jumped into action.
Showing wisdom way beyond his years, Salvatore wrapped up his little sister in a blanket and took her to the living room.
Next, he pulled off a clever move – using a bar stool to reach the garage door switch.
With his sister in his arms, he set off on a daring mission to their neighbor’s house in the middle of the night.
Their neighbor, Jessica Penoyer, was confused at first.
When she opened her door, she saw Salvatore standing there holding what she thought was a doll.
But Salvatore’s next words turned her confusion to shock.
He told her his mom had died in the shower and begged for her help.
Without wasting a second, Penoyer called 911, kickstarting a rescue operation that would end up saving Kaitlyn’s life.
When the emergency crew arrived, they found Kaitlyn in the bathtub, unconscious, with the water still running.
Salvatore’s decision to get help was a game-changer.
“Honestly, he saved my life. I was under the faucet. If he wouldn’t have gotten help, I would have drowned,” Kaitlyn shared with ABC 15 Arizona.
She had had a seizure, a scary experience she couldn’t even remember, only waking up later in the hospital.
Word of Salvatore’s heroic deed spread like wildfire, touching hearts everywhere.
The local fire department, Rural Metro, stepped in to give this brave boy the recognition he deserved.
They rolled up to his house with a fire engine and made a little ceremony out of it, giving Salvatore a certificate, a helmet, and a patch.
They were basically saying, “You’re one of us now, an honorary firefighter.”
Every child should know what to do.
Shawn Gilleland, a spokesperson for the fire department, used this moment to underline how crucial it is to be ready for emergencies, especially for kids.
He urged parents to teach their children what to do in emergencies, like how to call 911 or what to do in a fire.
This whole incident was a stark reminder of the unpredictable challenges families might face.
What’s really amazing is that Salvatore’s family had never gone over what to do in emergencies like this.
Everything he did came straight from his gut – a pure, instinctive drive to keep his mom and sister safe.
This story really shines a light on the natural bravery and smarts that even the youngest among us can show when faced with a scary situation.
Watch the video below to learn more about the 5-year-old’s courageous actions that night!
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