Seventh-grader honored for saving friend
Trending
BROOKFIELD -- Brookfield Board of Education gathered Wednesday to honor Jenna Omar, a seventh-grader at Brookfield Middle School who saved her friend's life.
Jenna saved Luciana Kolat from choking by using the Heimlich maneuver.
The incident happened during lunch, when a piece of breaded shrimp got lodged in Luciana's throat.
The girls have been friends since age 4.
At the meeting, trustees and Superintendent Toby Gibson congratulated Jenna.
Gibson also presented her with an honorary certificate on behalf of the board.
He also told Jenna "how proud they were of her actions.
"Being a principal, (and having) past experiences as a principal of middle school and elementary school, that's something (choking) that is always in the back of your mind when you have that many kids, especially the younger they are, eating there's always a potential for them (to choke)," Gibson said.
After hearing of the choking incident at the middle school, local resident Vilene Strimbu donated a new LifeVac machine to the school.
Gibson said they had a LifeVac, which saves students from choking, prior to the incident, but that an adult didn't catch it before Jenna jumped into action.
"I think this incident just happened so quick that nobody had time to (react)," he said.
Luciana also was invited to the meeting but didn't attend.