For Immediate Release:
Contact: Rick Reo, Superintendent
269-415-5200
rick.reo@ppps.org
Paw Paw Early Elementary Paraprofessional Hailed as a Hero for Saving a Child’s Life
Jennifer “Jen” Carra, a paraprofessional at Paw Paw Early Elementary, is being celebrated and recognized as a hero. When a second-grade student was choking during lunch earlier this week, fellow students alerted Carra that the child was in distress, and Carra quickly took action by performing the Heimlich maneuver to save the child’s life.
Reflecting on her action, Carra said, "I was only doing what a mom would do in that situation."
Paw Paw Public Schools’ Superintendent Rick Reo along with Paw Paw Fire Department chief Jim DeGroff IV, Van Buren EMS Operations Manager Dennis Reynolds and Paw Paw Early Elementary Principal Leah Barnes delivered a bouquet of flowers and sincere gratitude to Carra for her heroic efforts. Reynolds and DeGroff praised Carra for her reaction, which may well have saved a life. Barnes said Carra deserves praise and gratitude; she will use the incident as a reminder with staff about lunchtime safety and readiness.
“We applaud Mrs. Carra for her heroic acts in saving a student from choking on Tuesday afternoon at Paw Paw Early Elementary,” said Superintendent Rick Reo.
Following the choking incident, PPPS Registered Nurse Cathy Lancaster examined the student, determined that she was fine, and then notified the student's parents of the incident.