Police praised the boy for his calm response and compassion toward his mother and baby sister
Credit: virginia beach PD
NEED TO KNOW
- Zayden Herndon, 7, called 911 after his mother suffered a seizure at home
- He gave dispatchers their address, answered their questions and comforted his mother until help arrived
- Virginia Beach police honored Zayden with a Citizen Lifesaving Award for his response
A 7-year-old Virginia boy is being recognized for his quick thinking after his mother suffered a seizure at home and he called 911 for help.
Zayden Curran Herndon received the Citizen Lifesaving Award from the Virginia Beach Police Department on Tuesday, Aug. 11, after he helped his mother, Kailene Curran Herndon when she experienced a seizure on the morning of July 21, according to local outlet WAVY.
When his mother became unresponsive, Zayden called 911 while his infant sister cried, providing dispatchers with his exact address and calmly answering their questions, the Virginia Beach Police Department said in a social media post.
He also stayed with his mother and comforted her until emergency crews arrived, according to the department.
Zayden’s mother said she remembers preparing breakfast for her children and sitting at the dining room table with her daughter in a highchair. Her next memory was waking up in the hospital, she told WAVY.
She later learned what her son had done during the emergency.
“From what they told me, he picked his sister up. He told me he put her on the dining room table to make sure I was OK. They said he was talking to me and saying, ‘It’s OK mommy, it’s OK,’ ” Kailene told the outlet.
Zayden was prepared to respond because his mother had been teaching him how to handle emergency situations since he was 2, according to WAVY.
“We’ve practiced a lot just because we never know if and when it’s going to happen. Calling 911 isn’t a game, but he needs to do it in case of an emergency,” Kailene told WTKR. “I think he did phenomenal, so we’re super, super proud of him.”
Virginia Beach Police Officer James Hylton nominated Zayden for the award after learning about his actions.
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“He speaks calmly about what had happened with mom,” Hylton told WAVY. “He explained that his sister was knocked over in a highchair. So I started thinking about everything that happened with this, and I thought, that’s a lot for a seven-year-old — how impressive.”
Hylton said Zayden’s response showed both bravery and concern for his family.
“Not only did he show heroic actions, but [he showed] compassion with his sister and [was] so concerned with his mom,” he told the outlet.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate presented Zayden with the award, praising him and his parents during the ceremony.
Credit: virginia beach PD
“We thank the parents, we thank everybody that makes it possible for someone at 7 years old to know what the right thing to do,” Neudigate told WTKR. “He is definitely worthy of the praise and recognition of our community.”
The department also recognized Master Police Officer Michael Melnyck, Officer Grace O’Connor, Officer Joshua Horner and civilian Nicholas Psimas with lifesaving honors for their response to a fire and an overturned vehicle, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
“Thank you to ALL of these lifesavers!” the department wrote. “The difference you made cannot ever be fully measured.”
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