© Photo/video courtesy of East Orange Community Charter School A teacher at East Orange Community Charter School in New Jersey rushes to a student’s aid after he chokes on a water bottle cap on April 6, 2022.
EAST ORANGE, NJ — A third-grade teacher in New Jersey is being praised as a “hero” after she saved one of her students from choking on a bottle cap.
The nerve-racking incident, which was captured on surveillance video, took place at East Orange Community Charter School around 11:15 a.m. on April 6, a school spokesperson told Patch.
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In the video, the student is sitting at his desk and drinking from a bottle of water, when he suddenly puts the bottle down and clutches at his throat. While his classmates continue their work – unaware that their peer is choking – he stands up and rushes across the room to a nearby sink, where he tries unsuccessfully to clear his airway.
Replay Video
The frightened child then runs back to his teacher’s desk at the front of the classroom, frantically pointing at his neck. And as the other students start to realize what’s happening, that’s when JaNiece Jenkins steps in.
Without any delay, Jenkins jumps up and grabs the boy from behind to perform the Heimlich maneuver. It doesn’t take long – just a few seconds – until the child spits a plastic bottle cap onto the floor and gulps a deep, grateful breath.
Jenkins continues to comfort her student, speaking to him softly and wiping the tears from his eyes before leading him out of the classroom for further evaluation.
The educator’s inspiring actions earned a big thumbs-up from U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), who called her a “hero” on social media. He wrote:
“I want to praise JaNiece Jenkins, a teacher at East Orange Community Charter School! When a student began to choke recently, she performed the Heimlich maneuver immediately and saved the student’s life. Jenkins is a true community hero!”
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The article ‘Hero’ Teacher In New Jersey Rescues Choking Student: Video appeared first on West Orange Patch.