QUILCENE — Two students at Quilcene Elementary School used an improvised Heimlich maneuver to save the life of a classmate last week.
Students were eating lunch in the lunchroom last Friday, May 4, when second-grader Nathan Soderberg noticed his friend Josh Frantz was in trouble, said Principal James Betteley on Thursday.
Nathan told his friend, third-grader Richard Lont, that Josh was choking.
Richard jumped up and performed the Heimlich maneuver on Josh, dislodging a piece of hamburger that had become stuck in his windpipe, Betteley said.
Quilcene Volunteer Fire Department personnel arrived at the school after a 9-1-1 call for emergency help to evaluate Josh.
The emergency medical technicians said it was obvious there had been an obstruction, Betteley said, and that he was lucky to have someone perform the maneuver so quickly.
Josh’s mother took him to be seen by a doctor, and he returned to school later the same day.
Betteley said several adults were in the room when the incident occurred, but none of them saw the incident.
‘Took action themselves’
“The kids took action themselves without running to get an adult to help them,” Betteley said.
Later, when Betteley asked what happened, Richard said, “Not much. Josh was choking and couldn’t breathe, so I got it out. No big deal.”
Josh, however, thinks it’s a big deal and has gone around school pointing to his friends and saying, “They saved my life,” according to Betteley.
Betteley said he did not know how Richard knew the Heimlich maneuver.
“His mother was surprised that he knew what to do,” Betteley said. “He probably saw it somewhere.”
Betteley said he would ask the Quilcene Fire Department to provide special instruction about the maneuver to students during the school’s regular safety training later this year.
Betteley said Richard and Nathan will receive special recognition at the district’s end-of-year assembly.
All three boys will receive a special prize, which Betteley did not identify.
Betteley said the school is “so proud” of both Nathan and Richard for knowing what to do and taking immediate action.
“It’s especially powerful when something like this happens,” Betteley said. “Student interest is heightened, and they have cause to celebrate something great with one of their own.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
