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Custodian, cafeteria worker save elementary student from choking in Natick, Massachusetts

Custodian, cafeteria worker save elementary student from choking in Natick, Massachusetts
WHERE IT HAPPENED. DANAE:H T TWO STAFF MEMBERS TELL ME THEY WERE THANKFUL THEY WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. >> I JUST ACTED. DANAE: SCARY MOMENTS IN THE MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY LUNCHROOM AS A STUDENT CHOKES ON HIS LUNCH, STRUGGLING TO BREATHE. >> I REMEMBER TELLING HIM TO BREATHE AND SPIITT UP, TINRYG TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET WHATEVER WAS LODGED IN, OUT. DANAE:HE TSE STAFF MEMBERS QUICKLY JUMPEINTOD ACTION, PERFORMING THE HEIMLICH ON THE STUDENT, SOMETHING THEY BOTH KNOW AS A POSSIBILITY WHEN WORKING WITH KIDS. >>RKING WITH KIDS. THAT IS IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS, ESPECIALLY MAKING SURE EVYER STUDENT IS EATING SAFE. AT ITHS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. DANAE: THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL SAYS TIRHE QUICK THINKING MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE STUDENT TO RETURN HOME THIS EVENING. >> THEY SAVEAD LIFE. GRANTED, WHO KWSNO WHETHER THE CHILD MIGHT HEAV PASSED, BUT HE DID NOT BECAUSE OF EITHR ACTIONS. DANAE: THE TWO ARE THANKFUL THEY WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACATE THE RIGHT TIME. >> I’M GLAD HE’S OK. SHE STARTED IT, I FINISHED IT. THE RESULT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HOPED FOR. DAE:NA THE PRINCIPAL TELLS ME HE DID SPK EATOHE T STUDENT’S PARENTS EARLIER THIS EVENING. HE SAYS THE STUDENT IS DOING JUST FINE ANISD EXCITED TO
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Custodian, cafeteria worker save elementary student from choking in Natick, Massachusetts
A custodian and cafeteria worker who work for Natick Public Schools are being hailed as heroes after they saved an elementary student who was choking on his lunch, according to school officials in the Massachusetts town.Superintendent Anna Nolin said the incident happened Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Elementary School.Mark Plant, the school's head custodian, and Emily DeOliveira, a cafeteria worker, quickly jumped into action when they saw the boy choking. They took turns performing the Heimlich maneuver and were able to dislodge the food that was stuck in the student's throat."I just acted," Plant said. "I just remember telling him to breathe and spit it up, and try to encourage him to get whatever was lodged in out.""It's something that's in the backs of our mind, especially walking around, making sure that every student is eating and safe," DeOliveira said. "That's our No. 1 priority."Memorial Elementary Principal Robin Welch said the quick thinking and actions of Plant and DeOliveira made it possible for the student to return home Tuesday evening."They saved a life," Welch said. "Granted, we don't know if the child would have passed, but we know that he didn't because of their actions.""I'm just glad he's OK," Plant said. "It couldn't have worked out any better. She started it, I finished it, and the result is exactly what we hoped for."Welch said he spoke with the student's parents, who told the principal that their son was doing fine and that he is excited to return to school on Wednesday.

A custodian and cafeteria worker who work for Natick Public Schools are being hailed as heroes after they saved an elementary student who was choking on his lunch, according to school officials in the Massachusetts town.

Superintendent Anna Nolin said the incident happened Tuesday afternoon at Memorial Elementary School.

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Mark Plant, the school's head custodian, and Emily DeOliveira, a cafeteria worker, quickly jumped into action when they saw the boy choking. They took turns performing the Heimlich maneuver and were able to dislodge the food that was stuck in the student's throat.

"I just acted," Plant said. "I just remember telling him to breathe and spit it up, and try to encourage him to get whatever was lodged in out."

"It's something that's in the backs of our mind, especially walking around, making sure that every student is eating and safe," DeOliveira said. "That's our No. 1 priority."

Memorial Elementary Principal Robin Welch said the quick thinking and actions of Plant and DeOliveira made it possible for the student to return home Tuesday evening.

"They saved a life," Welch said. "Granted, we don't know if the child would have passed, but we know that he didn't because of their actions."

"I'm just glad he's OK," Plant said. "It couldn't have worked out any better. She started it, I finished it, and the result is exactly what we hoped for."

Welch said he spoke with the student's parents, who told the principal that their son was doing fine and that he is excited to return to school on Wednesday.