Elementary Teacher Saves Student from Choking
Reno, NV (March 14, 2011) - On a recent Friday right before lunch, Westergard Elementary fifth grade teacher Monica Ehlen was solving a math problem for her students on the ActiveBoard. When she turned back to face the classroom, it was clear one of her students was in distress.
"I turned around to see my student standing up, kneeling over, and he's absolutely choking. He's panicking, pointing to his neck he can't breathe," Ehlen said. "He's trying to gag and it won't come out. Naturally, I panic."
Ehlen says a fruit snack had lodged in her student's throat. She administered the Heimlich maneuver, but it didn't take the first time. "In just a matter of seconds it feels like five minutes had gone by and I check him again. He's still gagging and nothing is coming up. The fruit snack, which was about the size of a gum drop, had completely blocked his airway. As I began the Heimlich maneuver again, I thought to myself, 'This time I'm going to have to try a little harder,' so I tried it again and it just popped out. It felt like I was moving in slow motion in a movie."
Ehlen says the other students knew their classmate was choking, which made it even more stressful. The principal of Westergard, William Chronister, agreed saying Ehlen's heroic actions and calm demeanor guided her through the incident. "She was a little shaken but stepped up when it came time to act. It was fantastic that she maintained her composure and helped this student who clearly was in an emergency situation."
Ehlen says she is not a hero, just a teacher who did what any human being would do. "It was just a natural reaction. Of course I am going to save my student." It wasn't until after school, however, that what occurred that day really hit her. She returned from her crossing duty to see flowers and a card sitting on her desk. The card read, "Thank you for saving my life." Ehlen says, "As soon as I read that card, I just started crying. It was the best card I've ever received from a student."
Chronister says it's just one more example of how his staff continues to step up to the plate. "Every day I see something fantastic in these teachers. They never fail to amaze me, whether it's teaching in the classroom, guiding a student or jumping into an emergency situation. I have an amazing staff."
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