Harrison Junior School Custodian Helps Choking Student

Thankfully Brown and Black knew exactly how to act in a time of emergency.

(Harrison, Oh.) - A Harrison Junior School student has a lot to be thankful for today, in particular, a custodian that saved his life during lunch.  

Austin Brown was eating lunch yesterday when a stubborn coney dog was not "going down" as usual. 

“It was a big bite, and I was like, 'Oh, it’s fine.' I know how to wash it down, and when I did, it didn’t go down because it wasn’t chewed all the way, so it built up water and I started to cough,” Brown told Local 12.

When the student realized that he was indeed choking, he thought back to a recent class lesson where they had just learned what to do in a time of emergency.

Brown kept calm, found an adult, and signal that he needed help by doing a "choking signal."

Luckily for Brown, Custodian Larry Black knew exactly what to do in that moment. 

“He didn’t say much, and he looked at me and he [points at his chest] and I go, 'Uh oh. He must need the Heimlich maneuver,' so I spin him around,” said custodian Larry Black.

Black immediately started the Heimlich maneuver. Just a couple of pushes and the hot dog dislodged from Brown's throat and rolled across the cafeteria floor.

If Brown didn't pay attention in class and Southwest Local Schools didn't require certification every year for their staff like Black, this situation could have had a completely different outcome. 

Thankfully Brown and Black knew exactly how to act in a time of emergency.