Chase Wildman receives a Meritorious Action Award from Dale Musgrave, executive director of Allahok Council.
BEVERLY, W.Va. — While it is scientifically unknown whether adrenaline can give a person superhuman strength, something compelled Chase Wildman to lift a wrecked go-kart off of his friend.
Twelve-year-old Wildman is a Boy Scout First Class from Troop 66 in Beverly.
He was riding his dirt bike one June morning while his friend Hayden Arnold joined him in his go-kart. The boys were at the Arnold family farm near Huttonsville. Chase had ridden to the Arnold’s barn to get a drink, thinking Hayden was still following him.
But when Chase turned off his dirt bike he heard Hayden yelling. Chase put his helmet back on and raced to Hayden.
The go-kart had flipped multiple times, landing on its side with Hayden’s arm under the roll cages. Chase knew Hayden’s arm was badly injured, but he remember the skills he had learned from his first-aid merit badge he had received in prior months.
Chase pushed the heavy two-seated go-kart back onto its wheels and got it to start. He helped Hayden into the passenger side of the go-kart, tried to immobilize Hayden’s arm and drove him to the barn.
Chase kept Hayden from going into shock by making him comfortable, collecting ice for his arm and giving him water to drink. When Hayden was calm enough to leave, Chase quickly ran to notify adults of the emergency.
“I am very impressed that Chase was able to keep Hayden calm and to not let him go into shock,” said Michael Wildman, Chase’s father.
Chase believes he received a surge of adrenal epinephrine.
“I think the adrenaline really helped me lift the go-kart off of Hayden’s arm,” Chase said.
On Jan. 16, Chase received a Meritorious Action Award from the Allohak Council at a Council Recognition Banquet.
The Medal of Merit may be awarded to a youth member or adult leader who has performed some outstanding act of service of a rare or exceptional character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others. Only 6,478 of these awards have been given out since 1945.
Any boy interested in scouting is welcome to join Troop 66 at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church on Scott’s Lake road in Beverly. The group meets at 7 p.m. every Thursday.