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Highlands staff credited with resuscitating second grader; school committee recognizes quick action
Summary
The school committee recognized Highlands staff — instructional aides and the school nurse — for providing CPR and Heimlich maneuvers that stabilized a second grader during a cafeteria emergency.
The Danvers School Committee formally recognized Highlands Elementary staff who performed life-saving care for a second-grade student in the school cafeteria.
Principal (Highlands) described how staff used training received days earlier to perform CPR and the Heimlich maneuver and stabilize the child until further help arrived. The principal introduced four staff members praised for their response: Pam Descendo (instructional aide), Binu Carney (instructional aide who performed the Heimlich), Lisa Timmons (instructional aide), and Janelle Maroney (school nurse). The principal said the staff had attended recent professional-development training that prepared them to act. "The staff reacted quickly and professionally, and it was pretty amazing," the principal said.
Nut graf: District leaders underscored that regular safety and medical training are critical and credited the school's culture and nursing team for organizing ongoing CPR instruction. The superintendent noted the school nursing team's work organizing CPR classes throughout the year and thanked them during School Nurse Week.
Context and next steps: The family of the student visited the school and expressed gratitude but were not able to attend the committee meeting. Members of the committee and the superintendent praised the staff for their calm professionalism and asked leadership to continue supporting regular safety training districtwide.
Ending: The committee presented recognition to the staff members and reiterated the value of routine training and a strong school nursing program.
