Young girl was stuck in a flaming house with her little brother — she made a bold decision to save their lives
During emergency and unprecedented situations, being responsible for the safety of loved ones can feel threatening and frightening. It puts a lot of pressure on a person to make decisions in the nick of time to save the lives of others. In 2020, Central High School Senior and 4th-year Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadet Isabella Febres had the onus of saving her little brother and her own life when the duo were stuck in a flaming house, per Go San Angelo. The young girl quickly sprang to action and used her skill and intelligence to get herself and her brother out safely. Her actions were applauded and rewarded.
Isabella was awoken by her brother, Dominic, who realized the house was on fire. The duo quickly made their way to alert their other brother and their parents. However, in all the chaos, as Isabella went to wake her other brother, Dominic ran through the hall to the front door. With the intensity of the fire, as soon as he opened the door, there was smoke and flames bursting through the door. Isabella quickly realized what was happening and rushed to save her brother. With barely visible scenes and flames rapidly spreading, Isabella had to act fast. She first kicked the door closed and covered Dominic with her arms to shield him from as much danger as possible.
She smartly gave her sock to her brother to cover his mouth and avoid inhalation of the toxic smoke. She then ducked down with her brother to avoid as much contact with the smoke as possible. According to the American Red Cross, these are the procedures to be followed if a fire breaks out. First, it is important to get out. However, in cases where it is not possible, it is recommended to stay away from the fire and smoke as much as possible. Also, it is suggested to steer clear of heated doors and exits and keep them shut in case of a fire.
Furthermore, people are urged to stay low and keep their faces covered, and all these steps were diligently followed by Isabella, despite her being in a chaotic situation. The family eventually managed to break open a bedroom window and safely escape with minimal damage. She suffered severe smoke inhalation, possible permanent damage to her lungs and a first-degree burn in the back of her throat. However, her quick and selfless action allowed her brother to come out of the fire unharmed.
The incident happened on September 28, 2020, per San Angelo ISD. Isabella saved her brother’s life by risking her own and acting smartly in the face of danger. To recognize and applaud this skillful act, she was rewarded with the Gold Valor Award on November 3, 2020, the highest honor in JROTC. The award is given to cadets who perform outstanding acts of self-sacrifice and personal bravery. It commends the cadets for risking their own lives and going above and beyond to respond to their call of duty. "Febres is recognized for her incredible acts rising to this elite level," a news release stated.