MARIETTA – Parents of St. Mary Elementary School students are now having discussions with their children about food safety and choking after an alarming lunchroom event turned out for the best last week.

While eating lunch last Tuesday, Will Perry, 7, of Devola, accidentally swallowed a whole grape while laughing. Thankfully Jonni Tucker, a registered nurse and parent of another student at the school, was on hand to save his life.

“I was there to volunteer during recess but I had arrived a little early so the kindergarten through third-graders were still eating lunch,” said Tucker. “It turned out to be a good thing though because Will was choking and had gone to Mrs. Kern doing the sign for choking and she yelled for my help.”

Elizabeth Kern, the school’s librarian and lunch monitor, said she was grateful for the quick action from both Perry and Tucker.

“He did exactly the right thing and came to an adult right away instead of just waiting for someone to notice him,” said Kern.

Tucker said she could tell something was wrong right away and when they asked Perry what was wrong he couldn’t speak.

“I immediately picked him up and bent him over my arm to give him a few blows to the back,” she said. “Eventually that grape came flying out of his mouth like you see it on TV, but it was so scary and you never know when or where something like that is going to happen.”

Traci Perry, Will’s mother, said she hopes her son has learned to slow down when eating and is grateful for the quick response from Kern and Tucker.

“As your kids get older you think you don’t have to cut up their food like you do when they’re babies but they can still choke on those big pieces,” she said. “Jonni was his guardian angel that day and he’s a lucky little guy.”

Will said he has learned to chew his food better but the incident will not stop him from eating grapes.

“I’ll just cut them now,” he said.

Kern said the event serves as a reminder to parents to cut up larger foods for easy chewing.

“Chew your food and don’t pop grapes, strawberries and marshmallows without cutting them first,” said Kern. “Especially the marshmallows, please don’t pack whole marshmallows in your kids’ lunches because if they get lodged in their throats it’s so hard to get them out.”

Tucker agreed, saying parents at the school are now talking with their children about sitting down and taking the time to chew and swallow food. She also said adult supervision is key to children’s safety while eating and recommended that all who are interested take a first aid and CPR course to know what to do in case of an emergency.

“If someone is conscious but unable to cough, talk or breathe, have someone call 911,” said Tucker. “Have (the child) bend over and perform five back blows with the heel of your hand.”

She said if that does not work to perform five additional abdominal thrusts with one’s fist right above the belly button.

“I really don’t think I did anything anyone else wouldn’t have done but looking back the only thing I wish I would have done different is to also have somebody call 911,” said Tucker. “When all of that happens you immediately go into action, though looking back you can always learn from it, thankfully everything went right from his signal to getting the item out.”

Four upcoming courses are available in Marietta and Parkersburg through the American Red Cross and Marietta Memorial Hospital also periodically offers courses as well.