The Importance of Basic Lifesaving Skills and CPR
When starting your freshman year in high school there are many unknowns, but to save a friend’s life is definitely not a scenario that runs through your mind. Wylie High School freshman, Tony Garcia, was no exception, nor was his friend, fellow freshman Zayden Smith. However, just a short time into the school year an incident at lunch would arise where that very scenario became a reality.
On Friday, Sept. 9, Garcia and Smith joined their friends at lunch like any other day. Smith started laughing with friends at something that was said and when he went to swallow his food, the meatball he was eating became lodged in his throat.
“I drank milk to help swallow it, but the milk just came back up,” said Smith. “I started to punch Tony in his arm because I couldn’t talk.”
“I just pat him on the back at first, but then realized he was really choking,” said Garcia. “I then did the Heimlich maneuver two separate times.”
Garcia said his mom required him to learn CPR and basic lifesaving skills when he was younger, which he originally felt was not a great use of his time until now.
“It’s a good thing,” said Garcia. “I thought it was a waste of time when I was in the training and would have rather been doing something different on my Saturday.”
Shannon Lee, Tony’s mother, said Tony attended his first basic lifesaving skills and CPR training when he was 11 years old. Garcia said he just really never thought he would use the skills. Now, he is thankful he knew how to help.
Smith, also said he was really thankful for Tony knowing how to help. “I didn’t think anyone noticed I was choking,” said Smith. “It was scary.”
Garcia said learning basic lifesaving skills and CPR isn’t really that difficult. Now that he has used it, he definitely recommends to others to learn the lifesaving skills instead of thinking “what are the chances” like he used to.
By Kristen Johnson