Mehlville School District officials commend Rogers Elementary cafeteria recess monitor Shelley Smith for her quick thinking and heroic actions when she saved fifth-grade student Breanna Ulozas from choking during lunch on Wednesday, April 25.

While Breanna was eating lunch, she started choking on a piece of food and was having trouble breathing. Her friends noticed she was choking and alerted Smith, who quickly began performing the Heimlich Maneuver to help clear Breanna’s airway, according to a district news release.

“I got really scared because I couldn’t breathe, but when Mrs. Smith took care of me, I knew I was going to be OK,” Breanna, who had recently undergone oral surgery and was wearing a protective retainer that made chewing difficult, stated in the release

Rogers Elementary Principal Jeff Bresler commended Smith, along with Breanna’s friends, for properly handling the emergency situation.

“One of the schoolwide rules that Rogers practices daily is to, ‘Take Care of Each Other,'” Bresler stated. “This was another example of how our students and staff look out for one another and make sure everyone is safe.”

Smith has served as a cafeteria recess monitor in the Mehlville School District for the past seven years. Each year, the school nurses across the district train cafeteria recess monitors on the proper technique to use when carrying out the Heimlich Maneuver.

“Mrs. Smith is always nice, but I never thought that she would be someone who was going to save my life one day,” Breanna stated.