Troy Elementary School Custodian Saves Choking Student
TROY (AP) - An elementary school custodian in Troy has saved a fourth grader who was choking on a nacho chip.
Principal Arryn Schneider said Russ Palen acted quickly in the Woodland Elementary School cafeteria Wednesday when a student told him a classmate was choking.
Palen tells the Oakland Press that he was "scared to death" for a moment before going over to 9-year-old OcTave Lawrence of Troy and performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Schneider says Palen saved Lawrence's life and the boy was able to continue the day's classes.
The 55-year-old custodian is a former manufacturing supervisor for an automotive supplier who lost his job seven years ago. He says he was required to take safety classes and get certified each year as a supervisor.
The boy's mother says his family is "forever grateful" to Russ.
© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.