Pascack Valley Teacher Saves Choking Student's Life

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A quick-thinking teacher saved the life of a student thanks to required CPR training she received from the district.

Julianne Downes, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Pascack Valley High School, was teaching culinary arts students how to prepare various chicken dishes March 13.

A student took a large bite of chicken and was choking. The student could not speak and was having trouble breathing. That's when Downes sprung into action.

"I remembered the CPR training we had and I got behind the student and started doing the Heimlich maneuver. It took a while — almost 20 times — but then the chicken came out and the student started to breathe again."

The school nurse, administrators, and school resource officers also went to the class, but the student did not need any further treatment.

The Pasacack Valley Regional High School District implemented its district-wide policy of certifying every teacher, student, and faculty member in CPR in 2015. A member of the high school track team collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Fortunately, CPR-certified students and staff were nearby and helped save the student's life.

(See related: Entire Bergen County School District Renews CPR Certification)

The American Heart Association noticed the district's effort and awarded the Pascack Valley their annual Lifesaver Award in 2016.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com