Ms. King at Ernest Childers Middle School in Broken Arrow is receiving praise for jumping into action when a student began choking on her breakfast.

“She was holding her throat and pointing into her mouth - and just looked terrified.” King said.

Last Thursday morning, Isabella Cates was eating breakfast in the school cafeteria when she began choking.

Ms. King was on cafeteria duty that morning and jumped into action.

After a couple of swift slaps to the back didn’t clear Bella’s throat, Ms. King used the Heimlich maneuver, which she learned during a CPR class while working a summer camp job.

That did the trick and Bella was able to breathe again.

The two were familiar, as Ms. King was Bella’s teacher last semester..

“I said, are you okay?” King said. “I think so.” Cates replied.

Cates then asked Ms. King “Are YOU okay?”

“I think so!” King replied.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for Ms. King at Childers Middle School.” Christy Cates, Bella’s mom said.

She thanked the quick-thinking teacher with a Starbucks gift card.

Cox Media Group