Round Lake school staff honored after choking incident at W.J. Murphy Elementary

The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District presented lifesaver awards Jan. 13 to school staff who relieved a choking student at W.J. Murphy Elementary on Dec. 5, 2024.

Deputy Chief Eric Hare told the Round Lake Area School District Board of Education that the obstruction was cleared by school staff before fire department personnel arrived. "This obstruction was relieved prior to our department's arrival by the quick and decisive actions of your staff," Hare read from a letter to Superintendent Dr. Mendoza. He said the student was briefly monitored at a nearby hospital and "was discharged home that same day."

Hare asked five staff members to come forward and named the employees who took part in the rescue: Dulce Casianos, Christie Garcia, Natalie Telles and Kathy Collan. He also identified "School nurse Seth Jensen" and said Jensen administered abdominal thrusts that relieved the obstruction. Hare called the staff's response "decisive" and said the fire department was presenting each with its lifesaver award and a challenge coin.

Tony Ferraro, a battalion chief with the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, attended the board meeting and was identified by Hare as the on-duty shift commander who first responded to the scene. Hare said Ferraro and the department reviewed the incident after Ferraro returned to the station and were "thoroughly impressed" by how district staff handled the emergency.

The department used the board meeting to encourage CPR training for the public and pointed attendees to rlfire.org for class sign-up information. The board accepted the recognition and moved on to other business.

The district did not provide additional medical details about the student at the meeting.

Ending: The board recessed the recognition immediately into the agenda; no formal board action was required for the awards presentation.