CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An 8th grader in North Carolina is getting credit for saving her teacher's life.
Zoe McLain talked with NBC Charlotte's Rachel Lundberg via FaceTime about what happened last week at West Edgecombe Middle School.
"We were sitting in class and she [the teacher] was eating grapes," Zoe said. Then, Ms. Manuel started choking, but, at first, the students thought she was just coughing, Zoe said.
"We didn't think anything was wrong until she started banging on the table, and she got on her knees," she continued.
Zoe said students were hitting her on the back in an attempt to get the teacher to start breathing again. However, only Zoe knew the move that could potentially save her life.
"I went up behind her and started doing the Heimlich maneuver," Zoe said.
It took her two or three times before Ms. Manuel started breathing again. Minutes later, Zoe was praised for saving her life. The teacher even sent her a handwritten letter thanking her for stepping in and knowing what to do.
This kind of emergency situation prompted NBC Charlotte to find out if students are trained in school to perform the Heimlich.
As part of the statewide North Carolina 8th grade health education standards, the Heimlich maneuver should be executed on a mannequin for students to learn.
CMS said they operate under that guideline.
Union County Schools told NBC Charlotte, "The Heimlich Maneuver is taught in 8th-grade Health along with CPR and AED Awareness. It can also be reviewed in some 9th-grade classes, but it's not required at this level."
Rock Hill Schools and Lancaster County Schools did not respond with their policies.
Still, it may be in your best interest to go over the move with your child.
"You never know when you might need it," Zoe said. "I didn't think I would use it, and it turns out I did because my teacher was choking on grapes in the middle of class."