Quick-Thinking Teacher Saves Choking 6-Year-Old Student During School Lunch
A kindergarten teacher in Louisiana is being hailed as a hero after she noticed a student in distress during lunchtime and swiftly intervened to save his life. The incident occurred at Dolby Elementary School in Lake Charles, where teacher Megan Benham was supervising the meal.
Tears and Terror: The Moment of Discovery
While overseeing the lunch period, Benham observed tears streaming down the face of a six-year-old boy at one of the tables. Initially assuming he was merely upset, she approached to comfort him. However, as she drew closer, she made a horrifying discovery: the child was not breathing.
Alarmed yet composed, Benham quickly deduced that the boy was choking on a piece of apple. Without hesitation, she sprang into action, recalling a life-saving maneuver her husband had used when their own child faced a similar emergency.
The Life-Saving Maneuver
Benham described the critical moments: "He was kind of hunching forward, I guess you can say. I patted him on the back several times, but still nothing was happening. I went behind him, saying, 'It's okay, buddy, I got you.' I can tell he was scared."
She then wrapped her arms around the student and reenacted the technique she had witnessed her husband perform. "He started coughing. I know that a lot of the time food would fly out of mouths, it didn't happen that way that day, I guess it dislodged enough to where he could swallow," she explained.
Grateful Parents and Aftermath
Thanks to Benham's prompt intervention, the boy was soon able to breathe again, bringing the terrifying ordeal to a relieving conclusion. She immediately contacted the child's parents after the apple was dislodged.
The student's mother expressed profound gratitude: "My world stopped. I couldn't imagine anything happening to my babies. I spoke to him, and he was still processing everything because he really didn't have anything to say, and at that time I called my husband, and we were on a three-way with him just making sure he was okay."
His father, an ICU nurse, added: "I'm just thankful for Ms. Benham because if you sit back and think about it, it's a chance he wouldn't be sitting here right now." He emphasized that teachers should receive training for such emergencies, noting: "They're with them all day; no one else is around. Having to call 911 for something I don't want to say as simple as someone choking, having to call 911, that person might not have that much time, especially a child not breathing while they're standing to wait for 911 to come."
Recovery and Recognition
Following the incident, the boy remained unsettled for the rest of the day and refused to eat anything else. Fortunately, he quickly returned to his cheerful self, though his parents now monitor him closely during meals at home.
The young student admitted the event scared him but said he feels much better now. He shared: "I gave her a donut the next day," and added, "I hope she stays as my teacher." His siblings expressed their love for Benham and relief that their brother is safe.
Calcasieu Parish School Board Superintendent Jason VanMetre issued a statement praising Benham's actions: "We are so thankful that Mrs. Benham acted quickly in this situation. Had she hesitated, it could have easily ended differently for this student. We are grateful for the dedication of all of our employees, but in a situation like this, their presence could have been a matter of life or death."
The mother reflected on the broader significance: "It's nice to know we have teachers out there to care for our children as we do." This incident highlights the critical role educators play in student safety and the importance of emergency preparedness in schools.
