Conemaugh Valley kindergartners, staff member honored for aiding choking student

Conemaugh Valley kindergartners, staff member honored for aiding choking student

Two Conemaugh Valley Elementary School students and a district paraprofessional were honored at Thursday’s school board meeting for their roles in saving the life of a choking student.

Kindergartners Zachary Corson and Luke Harbart and paraprofessional Karen Sumrada were asked to stand up and be recognized for coming to the rescue of a student during lunch Oct. 28.

The students recognized their classmate was choking on his food and immediately got Sumrada’s attention so she could help.

“As many of you already know, I’m responsible for district training of life-saving medical for our staff,” board President David Rykala said. “I tell my CPR classes, ‘Someday, you’re going to be the last line of defense for somebody who’s in need – the last resort.’ On Oct. 28, 2024, these three individuals were the last resort to turn a potentially catastrophic situation into a happy ending.”

Sumrada, who has worked at the district for more than 20 years, is familiar with the Heimlich maneuver from taking Rykala’s CPR class for the past 10 years.

She said she simply assumed the necessary hold and, with one forceful compression, expelled the food from the student’s throat before taking the youngster to the school nurse.

“You know, you don’t think anything of it, but it could have been tragic,” Sumrada said. “I feel humbled by the attention, but it could have been tragic, and I’m just glad nothing came out of it.”

She added that the experience has been extremely emotional, including Thursday’s recognition.

Rykala, who is also a first responder, submitted the story of the rescue to the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross, the two organizations that coordinate CPR training in the country, and got a reply.

Rykala read the commendations aloud. They thanked the students and Sumrada for stepping up to save a life. Each of the honorees was given a framed letter for their efforts and a certificate for being an American Heart Association Heart Saver Hero.

“As far as I’m concerned, you’re Conemaugh Valley Blue Jay heroes in our book,” Rykala said.

Michael and Michelle Harbart, Luke Harbart’s parents, were thankful for the honor. Michael Harbart added that the acknowledgment means a lot to the children and his son wants to keep helping people because of it.

“The fact that they recognized the people that saved the little kid’s life means the world,” Michelle Harbart said.

All four parents said they were overjoyed their children stepped up and helped out.

“It just made me super-proud of him,” father Zach Corson said.

Allison Rager, Zachary Corson’s mother, agreed.

“I cried when I got the phone call,” she said. “He experienced me helping his little brother earlier that month from choking. Him seeing me do it helped him be able to find the courage to help his friend.”

For Michelle Harbart, knowing her son was brave enough to act is special.

“Hearing my kid was involved in saving someone’s life makes me the proudest mom in the world,” she said. “He came home that one day and he said, ‘Should I keep saving people’s lives?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah.’ ”