Schoolgirl Honored with Bravery Award for Recognizing Grandmother’s Stroke

A schoolgirl who identified her grandmother experiencing a stroke and subsequently raised the alarm has been presented with a bravery award. Safa Hussain, a nine-year-old from Shipley, possessed knowledge of the symptoms to observe, having acquired this information during her studies at Low Ash Primary School. She was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Lord Mayor of Bradford at a dedicated reception held in City Hall yesterday. Helen Matthews, the teaching assistant responsible for conducting the extra-curricular first aid lesson, also received recognition. The Lord Mayor, councillor Bev Mullaney, said: “It is great to recognise the bravery of Safa and the excellent teaching given to her allowing her to take action to help save her grandma.” “A huge well done to Safa for remaining calm and helping to save her grandma’s life.” Safa was absent from school due to a sickness bug and was residing with her grandmother, Mary Shaikh, 79, while her mother was at work. Safa said: “I remember going to my grandma’s house. When she sat down in the bed I tried to give her some breakfast, but she couldn’t pick it up.” “I tried everything that Ms Matthews said and I knew that she was having a stroke.” “So I called my mum and said ‘you need to call an ambulance, grandma’s having a stroke’, so she did.” Mrs Shaikh was transported to Bradford Royal Infirmary by ambulance, where she received vital life-saving treatment. Safa said: “It was a major, major stroke. I feel really happy and excited that my grandma is still here.” Her mother, Ayesha Shaikh, 49, mentioned that she had dropped her daughter off with her own mother, but received the phone call 40 minutes later. She said: “She rang me saying that Grandma was very poorly and had had a stroke.” “I said ‘what do you mean, you’re nine years old, how do know that she’s had a stroke?'” “She’d given her some sort of breakfast and she couldn’t hold it. But also her face had dropped and she couldn’t speak.” “She’s our little hero. She saved her because she wouldn’t have made it otherwise.” “It it hadn’t been for Miss Matthews teaching her the signs, then my mum wouldn’t be here.” Ms Matthews stated that one of her duties involved teaching first aid to students ranging from Year 1 to Year 6. She said: “It’s not part of the National Curriculum, but at Low Ash we think it’s a really good thing to teach the children.” “One of the things I did teach them was about the ‘golden hour’ and the importance of acting within an hour.” “The ambulance and the paramedics said that’s what saved her because Safa did it so quickly, so promptly. So we’re very proud of her.”