A kindergarten teacher in Louisiana has been hailed as a hero after her quick thinking and decisive action saved the life of a six-year-old pupil who was choking during lunchtime.
Lunchtime Vigilance Leads to Life-Saving Intervention
Megan Benham was supervising students at Dolby Elementary School in Lake Charles, Louisiana, when she observed one young boy behaving unusually. At first glance, she noticed tears streaming down his face and assumed he was simply upset about something.
However, as she moved closer to check on him, Benham made a startling discovery: the child was not breathing. Panic threatened to set in, but the teacher maintained her composure and quickly realized the boy was choking on a piece of apple.
Drawing on Family Experience
Without hesitation, Benham sprang into action, recalling a life-saving technique her husband had used when their own child faced a similar choking emergency years earlier.
"He was kind of hunching forward," Benham recalled of the moment. "I patted him on the back several times, but still nothing was happening. I went behind him, saying, 'It's okay, buddy, I got you.' I could tell he was scared."
Benham then wrapped her arms around the child and performed the maneuver she had witnessed her husband use. "He started coughing," she said. "I know that a lot of the time food would fly out of mouths. It didn't happen that way that day. I guess it dislodged enough to where he could swallow."
Grateful Parents and School Recognition
Once the apple was dislodged and the child could breathe again, Benham immediately contacted the boy's parents. The mother expressed profound gratitude, saying, "My world stopped. I couldn't imagine anything happening to my babies."
The father, who works as an ICU nurse, added his appreciation: "I'm just thankful for Ms. Benham because if you sit back and think about it, there's a chance he wouldn't be sitting here right now."
He also advocated for more emergency training for teachers, noting, "They're with them all day; no one else is around. Having to call 911 for something like choking—that person might not have that much time, especially a child not breathing while they're standing to wait for 911 to come."
Aftermath and Recovery
The incident left the young student shaken for the remainder of the day, and he initially refused to eat anything else. Thankfully, he soon returned to his normal, happy self, though his parents now keep a closer watch during mealtimes at home.
The boy expressed his own gratitude simply: "I gave her a donut the next day," he said, adding, "I hope she stays as my teacher." His siblings echoed these sentiments, saying they "love" Benham and were relieved to still have their brother to play with.
Calcasieu Parish School Board Superintendent Jason VanMetre issued a statement praising Benham's actions: "We are so thankful that Mrs. Benham acted quickly in this situation. Had she hesitated, it could have easily ended differently for this student. We are grateful for the dedication of all of our employees, but in a situation like this, their presence could have been a matter of life or death."
The mother summarized the family's feelings: "It's nice to know we have teachers out there to care for our children as we do." This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role educators play beyond academics, often acting as first responders in critical moments.
