Local Girl Scout Awarded Medal of Bravery - VIDEO STORY AVAILABLE

Caitlin Helsley has a scar on her left forearm; she got the scar while saving her little sister from harm’s way. The patch skin has healed, but the scar will serve as a reminder of her bravery and courage.

Last night, during the regular Johns Creek City Council meeting, Helsley was awarded a proclamation from the city after she earned the Girl Scout Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is given in recognition of a Girl Scout who has saved or attempted to save a human life.

One night, while Helsley was helping her mother with dinner preparations, she was walking to the dinner table with a pot of hot spaghetti sauce. Her sister, who at the time was only six-month-old, grabbed Helsley’s arm, the hot sauce began to slosh, nearly pouring on Elizabeth.

“I lunged my arm our and caught it on my arm. Nothing got on her,” said Helsley.

The sauce did however bun Helsley, who immediately ran to the sink and began running her arm under cold water.

Her father Bill says his daughter learned how to treat her wound through the education she received from Girl Scouts.

“She was smart enough to handle the burn appropriately,” said Bill.

Helsley did receive second and third degree burns, to her left arm. However, she was told by her doctor that the burns would have been much worse had she not treated them the way she did.

“She did not need skin grafts, which otherwise might have been necessary,” Bill.

Helsley’s mother Joanne said she knew her daughter was brave, but the real heroism did not hit her until recently.

“It is amazing what Caitlin did. We thought about it again just recently, we did not realize how heroic Caitlin was until we took a step back,” said Joanne.

Helsley has entered her third year as a Girl Scout; she says she was excited about her award, the Medal of Honor is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn.

To see Caitlin tell her story click below.