Heimlich Heroes Empower Students

By Natalie A. Trout
Marketing & Communications Specialist
January 25, 2020

Choking is the fifth leading cause of accidental deaths, but if you’re around a Canterbury Grade 5 student, you can rest assured that they are trained in the Heimlich Maneuver.

“I wanted the 5^th graders to walk away from health class with something that could empower them, keep them safe, a friend or family member safe,” said Jennie Crandal.

That’s when Crandal came across Heimlich Heroes, a program that teaches how to recognize the signs of choking and respond with the Heimlich Maneuver. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Heimlich Heroes was forced to discontinue their in-person trainings. One of the unique parts of their program were Heimlich Hero dolls. Crandal was able to purchase some dolls for Canterbury School at a great price as they sold off their inventory.

Canterbury’s in-person Grade 5 students have all taken the course this semester, practiced with the dolls, and are now certified in the Heimlich Maneuver.

“I feel this training is extremely important and age-appropriate for these students,” Crandal said. “The students are at the age where they could be left home alone or babysit. This will ensure that if they were alone and started choking, they would know how to administer the self-Heimlich Maneuver. If they were watching a sibling or babysitting and a child began to choke, they would know how to help that child.”

The students even learned what to look for and do if a choking victim falls unconscious, all thanks to Heimlich Heroes.

“At times, it was a little silly to watch their classmates perform the maneuver on the dolls,” Crandal said. “However, they were all brace and persevered in front of their classmates. They were all able to recall the process and steps when prompted by me, and they were successful in performing the maneuver.”