Hempfield Girl Scout receives national honor for coming to grandfather's aid after serious fall

When Ashley Bensur found out her grandfather had fallen 10 feet from a balcony at his Hempfield home the morning of July 11, 2020, there was no doubt in her mind that she had to help.

Rather than waiting to hear an update on his condition, Bensur, then 12, tagged along with her mother, Renee, quickly jumping out of the car when they arrived at the scene. She ran down the driveway to where her grandpa, Ralph Tantlinger, was lying on his back with several injuries to his head and legs.

“Everyone was just standing around not knowing what to do,” said Bensur, who is now 14. “I’m like, ‘I guess I’ve got to do something,’ so I just jumped in. We just finished learning about first aid (in Girl Scouts), so I’m like, ‘I know what to do!’ So I just started doing whatever I could to help.”

Bensur directed her mother to collect both wet and dry towels and immediately began compressions on his head to stop the bleeding.

She continued until a Mutual Aid ambulance arrived.

On Tuesday, Bensur was awarded the Girl Scouts Medal of Honor for her actions that day.

The prestigious award is given by the Girl Scouts’ national office to a Scout who has shown presence of mind and true Girl Scout spirit in an emergency, according to the organization’s website.

Wearing her tan vest adorned with various badges and reflecting her troop number, 26831, Bensur was presented with the award in front of a crowd of family members and other Scouts at the Greensburg Church of the Brethren.

“She actually had no idea that she was receiving it tonight, so it was a total surprise. … I’m just glad that she received it,” her mother said.

Ashley said she was excited and surprised, adding that she suspected something was happening Tuesday “because my parents were acting weird.”

According to Renee Bensur, she received a call from her mother, Pat, about 9:30 that July morning, informing her that her father had fallen from the balcony.

“We live a mile from my parents, and we drove over there. I was trying to prepare (Ashley) because I didn’t know what I was going to see,” Renee Bensur said . “We got into the driveway, and she just jumped right out. Her and my dad and my mom are inseparable.”

Tantlinger, 75, broke both of his knee caps and an ankle. Bensur described it as “a horror scene.”

As soon as they arrived, Ashley sat down next to her grandfather and tried to keep him alert before asking for towels.

“I don’t remember a whole lot,” Tantlinger said. “All I can remember is her holding pressure on my head; it was bleeding pretty good. I wanted to get up. I said, ‘I have to go to the hospital.’ She said, ‘You’re not going anywhere. You just stay here until the medics come.’ She took care of everything.”

When the ambulance arrived, she continued to help as much as possible.

Tantlinger was taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroe­ville, where Ashley was able to see him for a few hours. After that, however, covid-related restrictions caused her to not see her grandpa for about two-and-a-half weeks.

“Whenever she did see him, it was just a big relief from her and him to see each other,” Renee Bensur said. “He was in a nursing home by our house for a couple weeks, and then from there, when he got released from the nursing home, she helped rehabilitate him. She took care of him.”

Of her grandpa, Ashley said, “I don’t know what I’d do without him. He always helps me and plays sports with me. He’s there for me whenever I need him.”

After hearing about the situation, Christine Schaeffer, who is the Girl Scout troop leader for Troops 27038 and 26831, knew she had to nominate Ashley for the national award.

According to Schaeffer, to be considered for the award, the contender must be nominated by the local council.

“I held it together,” said Schaeffer about presenting the award. “… I’ve been involved in this council since my daughter was in kindergarten. She’s now in 12th grade, so 13 years. I’ve only known this award to be awarded one other time.”

Ashley also received local recognition.

During their meeting Monday, Hempfield supervisors declared a proclamation for Ashley for her efforts that day. The proclamation was presented to her Tuesday by Supervisor Doug Weimer. Westmoreland County commissioners also gave her a proclamation last year, and she received an honor from Mutual Aid Ambulance Service.

“I look up to her,” Renee Bensur said. “My father calls her his hero. She’s my hero, too.”