Duluth Summer Camp Counselor Saves Camper

The Duluth Mayor and City Council recognized a Duluth Summer Day Camp counselor for rescuing a choking day camper at Bunten Road Park. Kathy Marelle, director of the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department, commended counselor Savannah Butler for her quick action in administering the Heimlich maneuver on a 4-year-old girl who choked on a potato chip while attending the city-sponsored day camp. Butler "sprang into action" after realizing the girl was choking, Marelle said.

Butler had completed the CPR/First Aid course offered in June by the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department for camp counselors, Marelle said. The camp counselor was honored at the Monday July 11 Duluth City Council meeting. Butler said she asked the girl if she was choking, and when she didn’t respond, applied the maneuver causing her to expel the chip.

The Duluth Parks and Recreation Department offers 10 weeks of summer day camp. Each week has a different theme.