Harris Paul is not your average 8-year-old, and he may have saved his father’s life during a medical emergency on May 11.
Alamance County Emergency Medical Services honored the rising third-grader at Elon Elementary School with a special ceremony on June 20 where they praised his extraordinary bravery, intelligence, quick thinking and technological savvy. Harris received an award that declared him a hero for calling 911 to get medical assistance for his father, Haridas “Harry” Paul, and remaining cool, calm and collected throughout.
“Your fast thinking and calmness was just what was needed in an emergency,” the proclamation states.
In an interview, Harry Paul said that he and Harris were playing the popular video game, Roblox, on their respective tablets the night of May 11.
“It must have been about 10 o’clock in the evening,” Harry said.
“It was 11:02,” Harris interjected.
“It was 11:02, OK,” Harry continued. “I woke up and there was a bunch of people in my living room telling me that I’d had a seizure.”
Harry Paul said he has no memory of what happened in the moments leading up to and shortly after his medical emergency, but he understands that Harris called 911, stayed on the line with the 911 operator and guided paramedics and EMT’s to his dad, which probably saved his life.
Harris said his father dropped his tablet and fell against the side of the couch.
“He was groaning really loudly, and he was shaking. Then, he laid flat on his back and snored with his eyes open, and then he passed out,” he said.
Harris said the first thing he did was go get some paper towels to wipe blood off his dad’s face. Then, he used the Emergency SOS feature on his father’s smartphone to call for help.
When a reporter told Harris that he may have saved his dad’s life, the 8-year-old turned to his mother, Bailey, and said, “Told you.”
Bailey Paul said she received a call from Alamance County EMS on May 11, informing her of the medical emergency and asking about her ex-husband’s medical history. Bailey said when she arrived at Harry Paul’s house that night, Harris was still in a state of shock.
Bailey said Harris has received counseling since his dad’s medical emergency but has struggled with anxiety.
“He’s had trouble sleeping; he’ll call me repeatedly just to reassure him,” Bailey said. “He has anxiety anyway, and now that’s just amped up.”
Bailey said her son’s intelligence, courage and observant nature served him well during his dad’s medical emergency.
“He’s so smart,” she said. “Maybe a bit too smart for his own good. He hears everything. If you tell him not to do something, he’ll find a workaround.
“But he is incredibly good at math and reading,” Bailey said. “He’s won awards at school. … He loves to draw, and he really likes art.”
Bailey said her son’s other favorite pastimes include gymnastics and playing Roblox.
Philip Nowlin, quality manager for Alamance County EMS, said Harris did something extraordinary in an emergency situation — he maintained his composure.
“For an 8-year-old boy, that is not normal,” Nowlin said. “Initially, he was kind of like a little frazzled — that’s expected, but within like 30 seconds, he was talking [calmly].”
Paramedic Jennifer Cole, who was one of the first-responders that night, said Harris’ calm demeanor and ability to communicate his father’s location and condition made a significant difference in getting his father immediate medical attention.
“The whole time, he stayed so brave,” Cole said. “He’s an awesome little kid and to be 8 years old — I wish he could teach other kids how to stay calm in an emergency because he did amazing.”
And it was Cole who suggested that Alamance County EMS honor Harris for his bravery and courage.
“We run all sorts of calls in our career, and there are certain calls that just tug at your heart,” Cole said. “So we knew that we wanted to do this for him.”
