When Forest Hills High School senior Xavier Huntley decided to forgo baseball practice because he wasn ’ t feeling well , he couldn ’ t have known that his decision would be one of the most important choices of his young life .
After the dismissal bell rang , Xavier stepped onto the school bus , just like every other day and took a seat . Not long into the ride home , however , the normality stopped .
“ I heard someone say , ‘ Are you okay ? He ’ s choking !’ So , I stood up to see what was going on .”
Xavier saw a student leaning over obviously in distress . “ I couldn ’ t see his face , but I just knew he was choking . A lot of kids don ’ t know CPR , so they were just standing there looking at him choke . They were trying to get him to sit up . Then he dropped his head and sort of slumped over a little .”
That ’ s when Xavier ’ s training kicked in , a training that had occurred in middle school about
2 • Jan / Feb 2017 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Quick action by FHHS senior saves the life of middle school student
four years earlier . “ It was more like an adrenaline rush . Everything just froze in my head . All I could think of was , “ Grab him . Do the Heimlich . Grab him . Do the Heimlich .”
Xavier remembered his PE teachers ( who taught the CPR class ) telling him to make a fist with both hands , put the dominant hand on top and place them in the person ’ s upper abdomen , below the ribcage .
“ So , I made the other kids get out of the way so I could get to him . Then I just grabbed him by his sweatshirt and pulled him up . I had to do ( the Heimlich ) about five times . I was just going to keep going until he spoke because if he ’ s speaking , he ’ s breathing . I was kind of scared I was going to hurt him , but the main thing they taught us in class , it ’ s better to save him and hurt him , than to let him die .”
When Brian Joyner , the bus driver , was able to safely pull off the road , he went to assist , but Xavier had things under control . When he asked the eighth grader if he was okay , everyone on the bus was relieved to hear him say that he was .
As the journey home continued , Xavier remembers continually checking on the student . “ I still had
Xavier Huntley ’ s quick thinking and actions saved the life of a fellow eighth grade student .
The Union County Board of Education recognized Xavier on Tuesday , Nov . 1 , at their regular board meeting for his lifesaving actions . Pictured above , from left , is FHHS Principal Kevin Plue , ( sister ) Toni Huntley , ( mom ) Stephanie Huntley , Xavier Huntley , ( sister ) Makaya Huntley and ( dad ) Tony Huntley . the adrenaline rush . I kept watching to make sure he was okay .”
When the eighth grader got home , he relayed the events of the day . “ We went to Xavier ’ s house and I thanked him and told him how grateful I was that he was on the bus . Then I hugged him . My grandmother told him how thankful she was that he helped her grandson . She offered him money as a reward but he wouldn ’ t take it .”
It was at that point , as the eighth grader stood in his home , that the reality of his actions really sank in for Xavier . “ That ’ s when I realized I really did save this kid . Originally I was like , ‘ Oh it ’ s nothing . I gave him the Heimlich , and he ’ s all right .’ You go on and forget about it and go about your day . You just don ’ t think that type of stuff happens around you .”
Xavier recommends all students take CPR . “ You never know what ’ s going to happen . It ’ s better to have the skill set and not need it , than to not have it and need it . If the situation ever comes about , you might be panicky , but you ’ ll know what to do in that circumstance . You don ’ t really get time to think about it . You just have to make it happen and whatever happens , happens .”
Forest Hills High School Principal Dr . Kevin Plue referred to Xavier as a positive member of the Yellow Jacket community . “ He is always pleasant and polite . He is well liked by everyone . When I heard that he had stepped up to help a person in distress , I was not at all surprised . This fits his personality .”
School Resource Officer AJ Wallace commended Xavier for his actions . “ As a Law Enforcement Officer , there are many situations where acting as a Good Samaritan is necessary and part of the job . Xavier ’ s willingness to help would make him a great law enforcement servant to the community .”
The Union County Board of Education recognized Xavier on Tuesday , Nov . 1 , at their regular
board meeting for his life-saving actions . — This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .