LI Middle Schooler Saves Classmate's Life With Heimlich: 'I Did It!'

FARMINGDALE, NY — A student at Howitt Middle School saved her classmate's life by performing the Heimlich maneuver.

Mackenzie Anderson and Niousline Michel were eating lunch during the fifth period on Feb. 14 when Michel began banging on the table with a panicked look while choking on a piece of churro. Anderson locked eyes with Michel as several friends jumped, yelled and waved their arms to alert the lunch monitors of the situation, according to the school district.

Anderson, worried her friend could not breathe, did not wait for help to arrive.

"We have to do something," Anderson recalled saying. "I tried my best to perform the Heimlich Maneuver, and when I saw the food shoot from her mouth, I got excited. I did it!"

Michel's airway was cleared, and her breathing returned to normal. Lunch monitors were by Michel's side in seconds to check on her as the cafeteria erupted into cheers for Anderson's lifesaving efforts.

"She saved my life," Michel said. "I was laughing and eating, then suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was so scared."

Anderson and Michel had attended Saltzman East Memorial together and were friends before entering Howitt Middle School this past fall.

Anderson became the second Howitt Heimlich Hero Farmingdale had this school year.

Daniel Kelly saved the life of his best friend, Anthony Agrillo, when Agrillo choked on a mozzarella stick at Howitt Middle School on Jan. 24. Kelly, like Anderson, performed the Heimlich.

The Heimlich Hero program was taught to all Howitt Middle School students during health class earlier this school year. Students watched a 15-minute video that taught them how to recognize the signs of choking and respond with the Heimlich maneuver.

"Regardless of a student's age, size, or strength, they can successfully dislodge an item from someone's throat when choking and save a life," said Cheryl DePierro, assistant principal of the middle school. "I am so proud of all our students who took the training seriously, and I am especially proud of Mackenzie and Niousline for remembering exactly what to do in an emergency."

DePierro was motivated to bring the Heimlich Heroes program to Farmingdale after a choking incident in the teacher’s lounge last year.