School security guard noticed teen's 'color was off' as she 'stumbled' towards him — he knew what was wrong and saved her
There are universal signals used in life-threatening situations, and being aware of them and having the courage to act on them can make a difference. In 2018, security guard Roger Caron at Pascack Hills High School sharply noticed a student, Sarah Bazzini, who hinted at the need for help with one such sign, per CBS News. Also, he saw that Bazzini was "stumbling" and looking uncomfortable. Caron sprang into action and saved her life. The student was finishing the last few bites of her lunch and was heading back to class. She suddenly started choking on her food.
"I knew it was lodged in my throat, my drink, which I had in my hand, couldn't get it down," she recalled. "After a couple of seconds, I slowly felt myself fading, to be honest with you,” Bazzini added. Afraid and unsure how to act, she was making her way through to find help. That’s when the security guard spotted her. "I noticed Sarah didn't seem right," Caron said. He added that the girl was stumbling but moving very fast. As a special law enforcement officer at the school, he was getting a hunch that something was wrong. “The closer I got, I realized her color was off and she ran up to me and started giving me the choke signal. At that point, I knew exactly what was wrong,” he explained.
The universal signal to indicate choking is to hold the throat with one or both hands, according to Medline Plus. In such cases, it is crucial to try and ask the person whether they’re able to breathe and if something has blocked their airway before acting. Having served with the Woodcliff Lake Police for 34 years before his duty at Pascack Hills, he knew a bit about how to spot a person choking and what to do. The footage revealed how Caron saved the day. Amid students walking around in the hallway, he got Bazzini to the side and started giving her abdominal thrusts.
Students were confused but soon realized what was happening and began to look at Caron as he focused on the thrusts. He was able to dislodge the food item, and Bazzini started breathing normally. He proceeded to ensure the student was okay before both made their separate ways. The teenager was grateful for Caron’s sharp observation and action to save her. "There's such a special bond with him now. He's a hero,” the student noted. However, the officer was delighted to have set an example for all the high schoolers who saw him and for being able to do his duty perfectly.
"It's a wonderful feeling to know you can help somebody and that's what I took away from this," he said. People are impressed by the officer’s astute action. @SirFloofy001 shared the importance of using signs in such cases and said, “If you are ever choking, immediately grab the nearest person and put both your hands around your neck in a choking hold. This sign is universal in most parts of the world. Remember, even if they don't know how to save you, they can still yell or call 911 for you.” @peanutbutterjellysandwich5404 said, “That officer is a hero, what a great man.”