By Major Andy Pilling, Company Commander No 1 (Minden) Company
The Army Cadet Force offers opportunities to young people aged 12 to 18 years of age. Opportunities they will never get anywhere else. They also learn valuable skills and skills that can be used outside Cadets, in public, in homes and in their schools. One of those skills is to help save lives by using First Aid.
Cadets from joining, at the age of 12 years, learn life saving first aid skills and as they progress in their personal cadet journey, they can achieve Nationally Recognised Qualifications in First Aid.
On many occasions cadets around the Country have used these learnt skill and taken immediate action that have saved lives, of friends, family and strangers.
Cadet Lance Corporal Ben Hennigan from Bury Detachment No 1 (Minden) Company, is one of those young people, whose personal actions helped another person.
Whilst at school Cadet Lance Corporal Ben Hennigan came to the aid of a fellow student, who had a heart condition. When they collapsed, Ben, using his First Aid knowledge took control of the situation, even directing a member of staff what they should be doing. The student recovered and on talking to Ben he became aware of the circumstances. The following day the student again passed out and Ben again came to her aid.
The actions of Cadet Lance Corporal Hennigan exemplify the selfless actions of the Cadets in the ACF and Cadet Forces. He did not seek out praise, but his parents highlighted that his knowledge from Cadets helped him deal with a situation.
This action by Cadet Lance Corporal Hennigan was passed to the Army Cadet Charity (ACCTUK) and they have judged his actions to worthy of an Army Cadet Charitable Trust UK Praiseworthy Action Certificate.
On Friday 18 January at Bury Detachment the Commandant of Greater Manchester ACF, Colonel Smillie presented Cadet Lance Corporal Hennigan with his well deserved certificate.
For more on the Army Cadet Charitable Trust please click on the link below.
