EAST ORANGE, N.J. — A New Jersey teacher is being called a hero after she came to the rescue of a student who had a bottle cap lodged in his throat.
According to NJ.com, the incident occurred last Wednesday morning at East Orange Community Charter School. Surveillance footage from teacher JaNiece Jenkins’ third-grade classroom appears to show a boy drinking from a water bottle before accidentally swallowing the cap, WCBS-TV reported.
After the student hurried to the front of the room, Jenkins sprang into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver, according to the news outlets.
“He ran to me and couldn’t talk, so he was pointing to his throat,” Jenkins, a 14-year veteran teacher who has undergone first aid training, told NJ.com. “Then I just went to deliver the Heimlich maneuver, and luckily it popped out and he was OK.”
Jenkins’ quick thinking caught the attention of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who lauded her in a tweet Monday.
“I want to praise JaNiece Jenkins, a teacher at East Orange Community Charter School!” Payne wrote. “When a student began to choke, she performed the Heimlich maneuver immediately and saved the student’s life. Jenkins is a true community hero!”
I want to praise JaNiece Jenkins, a teacher at East Orange Community Charter School! When a student began to choke, she performed the Heimlich maneuver immediately and saved the student's life. Jenkins is a true community hero! https://t.co/oatVbVWg2e pic.twitter.com/MtUEQHP4JO
— Rep. Donald Payne Jr (@RepDonaldPayne) April 11, 2022
WCBS reported that Jenkins will receive an award and proclamation from Payne and the city’s mayor, Ted Green.
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