EIGHT-year-old Declan O'Dwyer knows just how important it is to stay calm in a crisis.

When his pregnant mother spilt a kettle of boiling water over herself, he came to her aid using first aid skills he had learnt at Cubs.

Declan was at home in Chillington helping his mum Sally, who was seven months pregnant, while dad Paul was at work in Exeter.

But disaster struck when Sally spilt a full kettle of boiling water on herself, potentially threatening her unborn child.

Declan – who had just completed his first aid badge at Cubs – sprang into action straight away. With his mum screaming in pain on the phone to his father, he calmly took the phone from her and said: 'Come home quick dad.'

Then he helped his mother up stairs to the bathroom where, fully clothed, he got her into the bath and ran cold water from the shower onto the scalding areas to reduce the temperature.

He then removed his mum's clothing and made her as comfortable as he could.

When Paul completed the 40 mile race to his home, he found Sally on the sofa with a glass of water, legs raised, wet flannels on her burns and even a towel to stop drips falling on the sofa.

Sally was checked over by her GP who said the quick and calm action carried out by Declan not only reduced the injury to Sally, but also potentially saved the life of his now two-week-old baby brother Joe.

More on this story in this week's Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette