A Pennsylvania third-grader is being recognized for saving his friend and classmate’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver. Recently, nine-year-old Liam Dougherty was having lunch at Shaull Elementary School in Enola when he saw that his friend was choking. Without hesitating, he performed the Heimlich maneuver on his friend, dislodging a piece of string cheese from the boy’s windpipe.
Shaull Elementary's principal, Rich Tysarczyk, commended Liam's heroic actions, noting that bravery like Liam displayed is rare and admirable. On Friday, Cumberland Valley School District superintendent, Mark Blanchard, presented Liam with a medallion in recognition of his life-saving efforts.
When local pediatric intensive care unit physician Dr. Becky Smith learned of Liam’s heroic actions, she praised the third-grader for knowing how to perform the Heimlich maneuver, skills Liam says he learned from a movie. Dr. Smith points out the importance of recognizing the signs of choking and knowing what to do, and says that Liam’s story serves as a reminder of the impact one person can have when equipped with essential life-saving knowledge.
Source: ABC 27