Parsons District Schools

A sixth-grade student is still walking the halls of Parsons Middle School today thanks to the quick response of one of the boy’s teachers this week.

The student at Parsons Middle School had entered the Family and Consumer Science Room Wednesday, while the instructor Joe Campmeir was still on hall supervision ensuring as students got to their classrooms on time to begin their day. 

“It was right before Viking Time. It is the only class I let go ahead and go in the classroom, Campmeir said.

He was just heading down the hall to his room when a student exited the room, and he saw him waving his hand, giving the universal sign that he was choking.

Kids often joke about such things, but in seconds, Campmeir assessed the situation. He walked behind the boy while asking him if he was really choking and the boy made motions towards his neck and shook his head yes.  Campmeir yelled to other teachers in the hall to help, and immediately administered the Heimlich Maneuver, dislodging the object from the boy’s throat. He then walked him to the nurse’s office.

The boy had thrown a big sour gumball in his mouth and then laughed, resulting in him accidently swallowing the gumball whole.

“It was really scary,” Campmeir said. “It was like my nightmare scenario. As a teacher, I’ve thought about that a million times with kids eating in front of you. “

Even with students eating in classroom all during COVID there were no incidents, but then suddenly, it happens.

Campmeir has not had any first aid training since he was in the U.S. Air Force, but he said the training was frequent then and so well ingrained, that these 12 years later he knew how to respond in a moment of crisis.

“You never know how you are going to react when something like that happens. Will you freeze or be able to do something about it,” he said. “I didn’t hesitate. … I’m just glad I was there to help him, you know what I mean, because that could have ended very different.”

Campmeir said the boy’s parents contacted him and they were really, really grateful.

“They were very appreciative,” he said.

Principal Tyler Gordon said what was most impressive was how calmly Campmeir approached the situation, how regulated he was, and how quickly he reacted.

“I’m very proud of him,” Gordon said.