North Providence: First grader receives Citizen’s Award after saving choking classmate
Seven-year-old Sameer Santana, a first-grader at Stephen Olney Elementary School in North Providence, R.I., is being recognized as a hero after saving a classmate’s life. On April 9, Sameer was having a snack with his friends when he noticed Jabril Brewster, a classmate, was visibly struggling and choking.
According to The Valley Breeze, Jabril was on a slice of apple. However, Sameer noticed the emergency before his teacher, Michelle Refino, per The Providence Journal.
As the commotion began, Refino told Sameer to sit down, but he raced to his classmate’s aid. Refino recalled that Sameer informed her he was about to perform the Heimlich maneuver on his choking classmate.
Without delay, Sameer immediately sprang into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver on his friend, Jabril.
Sameer explained that he had learned the Heimlich maneuver from a health class he took in kindergarten.
“I paid attention, so I remembered,” Sameer told the Breeze. “I knew what to do, so I did the Heimlich like how they taught me, and the apple came out right away.”
Stephen Pacitto, the principal of Stephen Olney Elementary School, told WJAR that the action was a huge deal.
“Had that not happened, you know, what the outcome could have been and how that I would have felt as a parent in that situation would have been obviously devastating,” Pacitto said.
Santana’s mother, Ciara Santana, was called by the school after the incident and became emotional upon hearing about her son’s heroic actions. She admitted she “didn’t even know” he had learned the Heimlich maneuver.
She remarked, “I’m just such a proud mom and so impressed.”
“He is always doing whatever he can to help people, and he’s great at remaining calm and not getting flustered, especially in serious situations where someone gets hurt. He’d make an amazing doctor one day, or a police officer, which is what he wants to be when he grows up,” she added in a separate interview with the Breeze.
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“As a 7-year-old, I don’t really expect for him to know something like that. So for me, it was a shocking moment. There was really no words,” Ciara also told WJAR.
On April 28, Sameer’s heroic actions were honored at a special school event. The celebration was attended by the mayor and representatives from the local fire and police departments, as reported by both WJAR and the Journal.
“This is so important that everyone should know what this gentleman did, what he represents, and hopefully it will inspire other students,” Mayor Charlie Lombardi said.
“I think he’s leaving his mark here, I can tell you that,” Lombardi added.
First responders honored Sameer with the Citizen’s Award and made him an honorary captain of the rescue service for the day. Additionally, a town proclamation was brought for Sameer to express gratitude for his heroic actions.
Sameer shared that he wants to become a police officer when he is older.
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