Staff Saves Girl From Choking In Cafeteria At East Brunswick Schools

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — A staff member from Churchill Junior High School was at the right place and at the right time when she helped save a student from choking.

Radwa Omar an instructional assistant at the Special Education Department at the school, saw a girl choking in the cafeteria during lunchtime. Omar immediately jumped into action and helped prevent a bad situation, school officials said.

Thanks to Omar and other staff who joined her later, the student was safe.

During Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, Omar was praised by Superintendent Victor Valeski and applauded for her actions by the Board of Education and the community.

“Her quick thinking and reflexive actions helped ensure a safe and immediate outcome for this student,” Valeski said.

“We are proud of her and grateful. She was the right person at the right time,”

Without going into the details of the incident, Principal Matthew Hanas thanked Omar not only for her actions that day, but also for everything she does at the CJHS.

Calling her a “true professional,” Hanas said Omar uses her intuition to provide high-quality instruction while leaving room for students to develop their independence.

“She's the type of person who does not want me up here right now, sharing this with you. She's a true professional and selfless in every meaning of that word. And she has demonstrated when she stepped in for a student who was in need in the cafeteria during lunchtime,” Hanas said.

“Her quick action helped that young lady and I was thoroughly impressed with how she just immediately went right back to her regular responsibilities like nothing had happened. And on behalf of the entire Churchill community, I want to thank her.”

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