PUSD's Public Safety Class saving lives

Clarita Alcantar, a Monache High School student, is being called a hero after helping another student who appeared to be choking on food.

On Thursday, following a public safety class, several students were waiting for rides in the south parking lot of Granite Hills High School.

“One student was eating, when a portion of food became lodged in her throat. She later told us she was neither able to breathe or speak and completely unable to dislodge the food on her own,” said Don Lanning, Social Science and Public Safety instructor at Granite Hills and Citrus High. “She was in immediate distress and in a life threatening situation.”

That is when Alcantar recognized the severity of the situation and immediately sprung into action, relying on the training she had received while a part of the Public Safety class, Lanning said.

“She stepped behind the student and began administering abdominal compressions. After a few attempts she was able to force the obstruction from the student’s throat allowing for the exchange of oxygen and the recovery of the victim,” Lanning said. “I would like to commend Clarita for her actions, borne of both her training and her confidence in herself with that training, to act decisively and successfully to the obvious benefit of the Granite Hills student, Isabel Cardenas.”

It is the third known incident where students who have received the training have been able to act and provide a positive outcome to what might have resulted in serious injury or death to a PUSD student, Lanning said. Lanning, the instructor of the class, also praised his co-teacher Clyde Tillery.

“The scope and quality of the curriculum and training we provide would not have been possible were he not a integral part of the program,” Lanning said.