TWIN FALLS, Idaho — A Twin Falls mom said she is so proud of her little girl.
"So, she saved my life. Essentially," Devin Bernal said.
Emma Love Bernal, who is just 9-years old, knew just what to do when her mom, Devin, had a potentially deadly allergic reaction. It started out as just an ordinary afternoon. Devin and Emma stopped for food at a local fast-food place.
"I picked her up from school, and I grabbed her a snack because she was hungry," Devin said. "When we were sitting down eating, I started coughing a lot, and started breaking out in a little rash, and I told her, when we get home, I'm going to take some Benadryl."
Devin has a shellfish allergy, and realized she must have been exposed to something that day to trigger a reaction.
"By the time we were pulling into my driveway, my throat started to close up and I was coughing really bad, and I couldn't breathe very well. I handed her my phone and she kind of took care of the rest, she called 911," Devin said.
Emma said she remembers those scary moments very well.
"Her face started getting really red, and she said her throat was closing," Emma said.
She told the 911 operator her mom was having an allergic reaction, and she couldn't breathe.
"Then I told them I'm going to give her a shot of Epi," Emma said.
Epi is short for epinephrine. Emma knew where her mom's EpiPen was, and gave her mom the injection in her leg.
"It helps open up the airways so you can breathe again," Devin said. "She stayed on the phone with the dispatch the entire time, and gave them all he information. She was so brave."
Emma said she knew what to do because her mom had trained her to administer the shot just in case.
"Yeah, I knew what was going to happen." Emma said. "It went good, but I mean I felt really overwhelmed."
Paramedics arrived shortly after she gave her mom the injection. Emma said she was so relieved, and emotional, too. Her mom was rushed to the hospital.
"They said I did a good job," Emma said. "I just know I was there and if I wasn't there, something could have happened that was worse."
Devin said everyone should know how to use an EpiPen.
"I did teach all of my kids how to use it, not just for me, but if they are ever in a situation with friends with food allergies," Devin said. "Most epi pens that you can buy, they come with a practice pen. I wanted them to have that knowledge on what to do if they were ever in a situation where they needed to do that."
That is exactly what happened to Emma.
She was honored at Twin Falls Fire Station 2 by first responders and dispatchers for her life saving action. It was a really special day for everyone there. Sircomm, Twin Falls Dispatch, Magic Valley Paramedics and TFFD members who participated in the medical call were there. Fire Chief Les Kenworthy presented the award. She also was given a challenge coin from each organization in attendance.
"I am so proud of her, she is so brave," Devi sid. "She's such an amazing human anyways, and I'm so proud."
For information on food allergies, and how to use an EpiPen, click here.
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