Lapeer East students who performed Heimlich interviewed for television news

Three students who worked with a food service worker at Lapeer East High School Tuesday were interviewed today for separate news segments on WJRT-TV, Channel 12, and WNEM-TV, Channel 5.

Chris Iloncai, James Richie and Emily Miller each performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student in the cafeteria when food became lodged in his throat.

The Channel 12 broadcast is scheduled for the 5 p.m. news tonight (Thursday, May 7th) and the broadcast date and time for the Channel 5 interview, is a little less clear, but supposed to be on Friday.

If you miss the segment a link to the archived broadcast segments will be put up on the blog.

(Top photo is the Channel 5 interview in the Media Center and the bottom photo is the Channel 12 interview in the cafeteria)

Three Lapeer East students react to choking student with Heimlich manuever

Three Lapeer East students worked together to help another student choking on a piece of cheese at lunch on Tuesday, May 5th.

The student began choking and a Lapeer East cook attempted the Heimlich maneuver but her relative size to the victim’s did not allow her to get enough pressure to dislodge the food. Two other students, Chris Iloncai and James Richie also attempted the maneuver before student Emily Miller stepped in and forced the food out.

Other kitchen staff went for additional help, but the food was dislodged before it was necessary. The victim was taken to the office, but needed no further medical treatment.

Emily Miller learned the life saving technique at a class in her Health Occupations course at the Lapeer County Intermediate School District’s Education and Technology Center.

“We are proud of the quick actions of everyone involved, particularly our students, in helping this young man,” said Principal Kelly Paige.

“In January, the District provided Heimlich and other food-related first aid training at a January in service for food service employees,” said Scott Smith, Director of Food Services.

Photos (top to bottom): Emily Miller, Chris Iloncai and James Richie.