They say not all heroes wear capes—and that’s true. There are heroes walking amongst us everywhere—in the grocery store, at our workplaces, and even in a third grade classroom at Conway Elementary School here in Stafford County.

Today, Sheriff Decatur and several members of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office got to visit a very special third grader at the school. Sheriff Decatur recognized 8-year-old Emma Meckley for helping save her dad’s life.

Last week, Emma and her dad were driving down the road near the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg when her dad suddenly had a medical emergency and lost control of the car. Emma immediately sprang into action. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and took her dad’s foot off the gas pedal. She then yelled for help out the window and used her dad’s phone to call 9-1-1. While waiting for help to arrive, she checked to make sure her dad’s heart was still beating. Several Good Samaritans came to her aid and her dad survived the incident.

This afternoon, Emma shared an important message with her classmates: always buckle up and have an adult teach you how to call 9-1-1. She credits these two things with helping save her dad’s life.

“Emma is truly a hero,” said Sheriff David P. Decatur. “Not only did she help save her dad’s life, she also continues to be a leader among her peers. John Quincy Adams said, ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.’ This is Emma. She is an inspiration not only to her classmates, but also her teachers, the men and women of the SCSO, and the entire community.”