Long Island 5th Grader Saves Classmate From Choking

Jen Chung

Published Nov 4, 2008

Modified Nov 4, 2008

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Jen Chung

Published Nov 4, 2008

Modified Nov 4, 2008

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Ten-year-old Keith Johnson is being hailed as a hero after he helped save a classmate who was choking. Newsday reports that Keith noticed the student choking during lunch--"His face was turning red"--so he "went behind the victim, put his fists under the student's rib cage and pushed up." Which helped the boy "dislodge" a sandwich. The school, which gave Keith a certificate of appreciation, says there was a lunch aide, but the fifth-grader got to the choking boy first. Keith's parents believe their son learned the Heimlich maneuver by seeing the safety signs in restaurants--his mom said, "He's always reading. He likes to know what's going on around him."