Bristol-Warren Schools Honoring Custodian Who Saved Choking Student

BRISTOL, RI — Superintendent Ana Riley and the Bristol-Warren Regional School Committee on Monday will honor an elementary school custodian who saved a choking student's life earlier this year.

Guiteras School custodian Bobby Santos was working as a lunch monitor when he heard a commotion and people calling for help. School officials said he saw a student choking on their lunch, and immediately sprung into action.

Santos, who has had previous training in basic lifesaving skills and works to keep them current, performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the student and eventually cleared the blockage.

The Bristol-Warren School Committee will honor Santos at its Monday meeting.

"Bobby has such a positive relationship with all of our students, and we look forward to honoring his quick thinking and heroic actions at our meeting next week," Guiteras School Principal Christine Hughes said.

Santos is a 1990 Bristol High School graduate, and has been employed as a custodian at the Guiteras School for many years.