The title of the video is “Learn It Young. Remember It Forever.” Immediately, I wondered what this “It” could possibly be.
“It” turns out to be potentially life-changing and life-saving.
The video opens with the powerful imagery and sound and for a moment, you really become lost in the loud crashing of the waves and sounds of the ocean. Two heads briefly come into view before the frame cuts to a quiet, empty beach scene. Seconds later, we see a young boy carrying a young unconscious girl to shore and begin to perform CPR.
And suddenly, the little boy is no longer a boy, but a grown man, as he embraces his daughter in a hug, visibly shaken by her brush with death. What if he hadn’t known how to save her, how to breathe life back into her body? How would this story have ended?
Here, the video ends with him standing up and carrying his daughter out of the frame. We know that she’ll be just fine, all because of her dad knew exactly how to react when tragedy struck during what was supposed to be a regular trip to the beach.
A Cape Town agency called Not Norm created this video for Scouts South Africa. SSA, like the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts of America, aims to instill “leadership abilities, teamwork, self-motivation, commitment, perseverance, environmental and cultural awareness and strong values.” CPR is just one of the important lessons taught to SSA’s youth.
This clip, clocking in at a minute and 20 seconds, tells a powerful story and is undeniably emotionally-charged, from start to finish.
From its first moment, the opening scene captured my attention, and held onto it. And then there are the children. My heart immediately went out to them, so young in their innocence, yet having to endure such distress. I felt hopeful, though, the minute the boy began to perform CPR.
Suddenly, though, the course of events took a drastic turn that I never saw coming. And the element of surprise made it all the more powerful. But this turn of events, as a parent, makes the whole scenario almost too relate-able for me.
The story contained within this short video knocked me off my feet, and I think you can see why. Framing the importance of a life lesson with a life and death situation involving a parent and child made this story compelling, emotional, and truly memorable. I think those are hallmarks of great storytelling.
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