When Emily and Nehemiah heard screams coming from across the road one evening in Melton West, they had no idea they were about to step into a traumatic emergency that would leave four people seriously injured.

The couple, who are among this year's nine recipients of the First Aid Champion Awards, were preparing to head out for date night when a split-second decision changed the course of their evening.

As they were driving away, Nehemiah noticed his vehicle's check engine light had come on and decided to return home and went straight to the garage to investigate the issue. It was when he heard commotion coming from the neighbouring house.

At first, he assumed it was a family dispute.

"I heard screaming across the road from a family and a lot of shouting, yelling and some dogs barking. I thought it was a family argument. But as the shouting and screaming kept going on, I heard, 'Not the baby, not the baby.' After that, I thought, alright, I am now going to get involved."

When he entered the house, Nehemiah was confronted with multiple casualties and blood everywhere. Four family members had suffered serious injuries after being attacked by their family dog, resulting in significant blood loss and a highly distressing scene.

Without hesitation, he ran back home, got Emily out of the bath and said:

"Get dressed, get up now, we're going. Someone's hurt."

Drawing on her nursing training, Emily quickly assessed the situation and prioritised the victims, identifying the mother as the person in the most critical condition.

"She was very pale; she was struggling to hold herself up in the chair."

"There was one teenager who was on the ground, and we immediately had to apply a tourniquet to his leg. I got Miah to stay with him because he had very deep wounds to the back of his leg and was bleeding quite profusely. I instructed him to kneel beside him and keep him talking because he was also very pale," Emily explained.

Together, they ensured emergency services had been contacted and focused their attention on those with the most serious injuries.

Emily also applied a tourniquet to the mother's severely injured upper arm, helping to control life-threatening bleeding and reduce the risk of further complications before paramedics arrived.

Throughout the incident, Emily and Nehemiah remained calm under pressure, providing reassurance to the injured family members while continuously monitoring their condition.

When emergency crews arrived, Emily provided a detailed handover and supported paramedics as they took over patient care.

Thanks to the couple's quick thinking, teamwork and willingness to act, all four patients were transported to hospital in serious but stable conditions.

Reflecting on the eventful evening, Nehemiah emphasised the importance of remaining calm during emergencies.

"The dog originally latched onto the mother. In trying to get the dog off her, everyone jumped in and started grabbing the dog to pull it away. Because of that, the dog turned around and started biting everyone."

"I think it's important that everyone knows that, because in those incidents, if you panic, you can make the situation worse. That's what turned it from one injured person into four."

In a confronting and fast-moving emergency, Emily and Nehemiah demonstrated the power of staying calm, stepping forward and using their skills to help others.

"Helping save lives is something I wouldn't want to put on anyone because it can be quite traumatic, but in the end, it does feel good to know that we helped someone," Emily said.

"All it takes is courage. In that scenario, it was simply walking across the road, even when you didn't want to get involved," Nehemiah added.

Their actions show that first aid knowledge, combined with compassion and confidence, can make a real difference when every second counts.

For their courage, quick thinking and commitment to helping others in a time of crisis, Emily and Nehemiah were recognised as two of St John Ambulance Victoria's nine First Aid Champion Award recipients for 2026.

Watch their video below: