School resource officer on duty saw a 6th grader ‘turn purple’ — what he did next saved the child

As soon as the officer was alerted, he spared no second to calmly yet astutely render life-saving help.

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

(L) Little boy sitting alone during school break and feeling uneasy. (R) Officer on duty observing vigilantly. (Representative Cover Image Source: (L) Unsplash | Annie Spratt; (R) Pexels | Kindel Media)

It is crucial to stay careful and vigilant while supervising kids. Within a jiffy, the slightest error can cause potential danger. One has to be alert, look out for possible problems, and act astutely when looking after children. Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy First Class (DFC) G. Jenkins, was on duty as the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Auburn Middle School on May 16 when he spotted something untoward happen during lunchtime, per Fauquier Now. A sixth grader started to turn unusually purple. The officer immediately stepped into action and saved the boy’s life in due time. It’s not just his vigilance but also his quick and calm reaction that is receiving applause.

Students on lunch break at school sharing meals. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Yan Krukau)

The Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office shared a release on Facebook, explaining how the officer heroically saved the day. “During the sixth-grade lunch period, Jenkins was helping monitor the cafeteria and speaking with the kitchen staff,” the post read. The kids seemed to be having their lunches as usual until a sixth-grade boy suddenly started looking uneasy. “The video footage from inside the cafeteria captured the moment the student clutched his neck in alarm,” the post mentioned. A fellow sixth grader, Ayrabella Cardec, noticed the boy and rushed to alert the officer.

Little boy having lunch in school cafeteria. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by Annie Spratt)

The other students, too, tried to look for teachers to help. When Jenkins rushed to the boy, he realized that he was choking and was already turning purple due to a lack of oxygen. According to Injury Facts, choking is the fourth leading cause of death when it comes to unintentional injuries. Around 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people occur due to choking. Elderly people and young children are at the highest risk of fatal choking accidents, per Pro Training. Immediately, the officer knew what to do. “In one quick motion, Jenkins lifted the student from his seat and performed the Heimlich maneuver,” the post mentioned.

Officer on duty making observation and notes. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Кинешма сми Евгений Стрункин)

In such cases, the Heimlich Maneuver, administered by grabbing a person from behind and thrusting their abdomen inward and upward, is one of the best immediate treatments. It is to be noted that the method should be performed only after a quick and careful assessment of the person choking and the situation. With his quick and precise administration, the object blocking the boy’s airway was removed. He quickly rushed the child to the school nurse to ensure everything was fine. The students and teachers echoed the cafeteria with applause for the officer, who “humbly said that he was just doing his job.”

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The fellow officers at the department learned of Jenkins’ life-saving help and commended him. Fauquier County Sheriff Jeremy Falls said, “Fauquier County Deputies working as SROs provide a sense of security to teachers and students who know they can count on them for all kinds of help. I am grateful to DFC Jenkins for acting quickly and decisively to save that child." The principal of Auburn Middle School, Matt Yonkey, added, “Deputy Jenkins exemplified the dedication and compassion we are fortunate SROs bring to our schools. He is a valued member of the Auburn community every day – and on this day, it brought life-saving action.”