A Wildwood Beach Patrol junior lifeguard performed the Heimlich maneuver on a young student at his school who was choking and was able to dislodge a piece of fruit leather stuck in his throat, enabling him to breathe again.
According to a release from the city, 13-year-old Billy Carberry, an eighth grader at Our Lady of Calvary School in Northeast Philadelphia, rushed to the aid of the preschooler, Christopher, who was choking during lunchtime on Oct. 23.
He’d noticed Christopher was waving his hands in distress and his face was red. Billy then performed the Heimlich maneuver, clearing his throat.
When asked about the experience, Billy admitted he felt scared but said he was determined not to show it. “I didn’t want Christopher to be scared,” he said.
His knowledge of the life-saving technique comes from his training as a junior lifeguard with the Wildwood Beach Patrol, a program he has participated in for several summers as a summer resident of Wildwood. “I learned a lot about safety and how to help others,” he said.
Billy has drawn praise from teachers and parents alike, and Wildwood Beach Patrol Capt. Ed Schneider commended his effort with an award recognizing his bravery and quick thinking.
“A great deal of credit goes to junior lifeguard instructor Jack Rauchut and his team for teaching junior lifeguards how to recognize dangerous situations,” Schneider said. “Billy is a kid who paid attention and prevented a critical incident.”
