This 10-year-old paramedic teaches adults life-saving skills

By George Jones

Meet the 10-year-old paramedic who teaches ADULTS life-saving procedures - including CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

Jack Dawson, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, was aged two when his parents, Danielle, 36, and Stuart, 41, noticed he "was interested" in becoming a paramedic.

The boy would "often get excited" when his granddad, who owns a first response company, drove in ambulances with flashing blue lights - and by three he would start "randomly pumping his teddy bear's chest."

These signs led Jack's parents to teach him first aid - at the same time he was learning to speak - and eventually, he was "practicing his skills on dolls every day".

Jack, quickly grasped the act of CPR, understanding the different recovery positions - and how to use a defibrillator.

It was then at age seven, in 2021, that the schoolboy decided to lead workshop sessions of his own, alongside his dad and other trainers for their charity, Tamworth Have A Heart, which aims to make automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) publicly accessible and train people to use them confidently.

Jack teaches both children and adults how to perform CPR and use defibrillators - while also patrolling his town center and checking that the public defibrillators' pads and batteries are up to date and fit for use.

Mom, Danielle, a special needs teacher, said: "I am just so proud of him.

"When he was just two years old, we instantly knew what he wanted to do.

"He was so interested in the blue flashing lights of ambulances and we would find him frequently performing CPR on his teddies and pumping their chests.

"So at the same time, he was learning to speak, my husband and I decided to teach him first aid - and he was like a sponge.

"He just picked everything up so quickly."

At this time, Jack's dad, Stuart, was running training sessions for his charity, Tamworth Have A Heart, which aims to create awareness of bystander CPR and the use of accessible defibrillators.

Out of interest, the then six-year-old started attending the workshops - and it wasn't until the following year, at seven, that Jack showed a desire to teach - and to show people what he had learned.

"His motto was 'if I can save a life, then you can'," Danielle said.

The sessions involve a mixture of children and adults, ranging from various ages; often drawing crowds of around 20-40 people - sometimes Jack could be teaching in front of 100 people.

He does step-by-step walkthroughs on how to perform CPR with practice dummies laid on the floor, informing people about the dangers - including "looking into patients airways in case of vomit and blood before pumping".

As well as tutorials on how to operate defibrillators that are used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest.

"He absolutely loves teaching," Danielle said.

"I've never seen him so confident before and the fact he's helping people to save a life determines him even more.

She added: "People are very surprised to see a 10-year-old teach these skills.

"He gets a lot of positive feedback with people saying that they 'wish they were Jack'.

"And many times he even receives special requests to teach people.

"A lot of people like him and say he does a great job.

"I think people appreciate the information coming from a child, as it makes them think that if a 10-year-old can do it, then they can."

Alongside his workshops, Jack also monitors the publicly accessible defibrillators around Tamworth, for his dad's and grandad's charity, to check that the pads and batteries are up to date and work for bystander use.

He has also started a YouTube channel and TikTok page posting medical tutorials and training nights for those unable to attend.

As a result of his community work, the 10-year-old was crowned runner-up in the Spirit of Tamworth awards, last year - and has now been shortlisted as a finalist amongst three other children for Children of Courage Birmingham Awards.

The awards night takes place on February 28, where they will announce the winner.

Looking forward, Danielle said: He's been looking into visiting various schools and local clubs to run his sessions in.

"And has shown a lot of enthusiasm about going to university and being a paramedic - it's all he thinks about.

"I know he'll be the best paramedic."