V teachers save boy choking Paramedics honor St. Edmund’s teachers for emergency first aid EVERY TIME. teacher Sharon Horner thinks about Hot Dog Day she gets emo- tional. By Anna Marie 0’ Angelo News Reporter one of four St. Edmund's elementary school teachers who perforined emergency first aid on an uncon- scious kindergarten’ student on _ dune 9, BC Ambulance Services paramedic Darrell Mussatto sitid the North Vancouver teachers helped save the youngster's life. Vive-year-old Gabriel Moody choked on a piece of hot dog. He subsequently became unconscious. ‘Wve had children choke be- fore, but I've never had a situa- tion where | couldn’: do anything about it until the child passed out,’’ said Horner, The BC Ambulance Services recently presented the four teach- ers witht Good Samaritan awards for their efforts to revive the child. Moody had ‘suddenly stood up in his kindergarten class after the hot dogs had been handed out at lunch time. One of the Grade 7 monitors told Horner that Moody looked funny. “I looked at him and he was choking,’’ said Horner, a Grade 7 teacher. Horner pounded on his back three times, turned him upside, and then applied the Heimlich Manoeuvre several times without any results. Meanwhile, Grade 4 teacher Sharon Martin arrived from the teacher staff room. . Martin continued to assist Moody as two other teachers, Nadine Primerano and Sandy Turner, arrived to help. Horner called 9-1-1 and went outside the school to direct ambulance para- medics. : Horner was Mad Tz WII! ALSTO GLASS. “By the time £ was leaving the room, he had started turning blue," said Horner. “When f stoad out on that sidewalk, E knew that if something didn’t happen quickly, he was dead," she said. Martin attempted = mouth-to- mouth cesuscitation, but the air appeared to be entering his stom- ach. So Turner gently pushed the air out of the stomach, said Horner. She said there appeared to be some movement in’ Moody's throat area after the stomach was pushed, The teachers then turned the youngster on his side and the piece of hot dog came out. “Tt was a whole, thick chunk, There wasn't a tooth mark on it,”’ said Horner. The hot dog had blocked Moody’s air passage in his throat. Eight other kindergarten pupils in the class, frightened by what they had witnessed, were sent out of the room when the teachers ar- rived. A substitute teacher, a teacher’s aide and two Gi.de 7 students were present when Moody began choking. Horner said Moody was un- conscious for a short time. She said waiting for the ambulance ‘*seemed like forever.” Horner said the school now has a policy of slicing hot dogs down the them on Hot Dog Day. “If we had ever thought that there was any danger, we certainly would have sliced the hot dogs,” said Horner. Moody was taken to hospital. He returned to school two days later. “When we saw Gabriel again at the full school assembly, he had his pink cheeks and thie sparkle in the eye and the big smile,” said Horner. “Every single one of use got tears in our eyes. And every time we talk about it, we get emo- tional,” she added. y - Let the sun shine in this summer with a professionally installed sunroof from Speedy Auto Glass, for the incredible price of only * Fully removable * Silkscreen finish * Bronze reflective glass Instead of using your car, walk to the store. Doanerrandon your bicycle. Take the bus to work, orcarpool it. Greater Vancouver Regional District middle before distributing Sunday, August 1, 1993 - North Shore News - 9 On + hot do —— NEWS photo Pau! McGrath BC AMBULANCE Service paramedic Darrell Mussatto (left) recently presented Good Samaritan awards to St. Edmund's school teachers Nadine Primerano (second from left), Sandy Turner, Sharon Horner and Sharon Martin for their efforts to revive kindergarten student Gabriel Moody (centre). The youngster choked on a hot dog and became unconscious at the school in June. Fe RE E eee Window Fashion Guide" with our no charge in-home consultation. Call today to see a qualified experienced decorator. The truth about us is ... we do more than just cover your windows. With hundreds of beautiful fabrics to choose from for draperies, bedding, fur- niture and more... : “JGROT“ can do tt all - make It one stop. Decorate your home with fashionable window coverings, update your furnish- ings with new upholstery and let us assist ] your * No extra costs Experienced consultants to help you select colors to enhance and bring more excitement into your life. FREE service, Fresh ideas ... at Exceptional prices Located near you at: 2413 Marine Drive, West Vancouver DUNDARAVE AUGUST SALES| & LEVOLOR | Up to 55% off ® 1’ venetians ° Duettes ° Verticals «Woods * Pleated Shacles