A teacher assistant from Fruitland Park Elementary School saved a fifth-grade student from choking.Jordan Strauss was having lunch when he began to choke on a bit of cheese."I was choking and scared," Strauss said. "At first, I reached into the back of my mouth and pulled out as much as I possibly could. Then I ran to the trash can and tried to cough it up, but that didn't really work."Sherry Jutkofsky, a teacher assistant at the school, said she knew he was in distress when she saw him with his hands around his throat.Jutkofsky said she tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Strauss, but it didn't work, and she was afraid of hurting him.Eventually, Jutkofsky said, she decided to try the maneuver one more time and it worked."It took a few attempts, though. They talked about that in the class. They told us not to be afraid to really get in there. It was a good class with great instructors. They taught us well," Jutkofsky said. "My mom said she is so thankful, and I am, too," Strauss said. "Thanks for saving my life!"

A teacher assistant from Fruitland Park Elementary School saved a fifth-grade student from choking.

Jordan Strauss was having lunch when he began to choke on a bit of cheese.


"I was choking and scared," Strauss said. "At first, I reached into the back of my mouth and pulled out as much as I possibly could. Then I ran to the trash can and tried to cough it up, but that didn't really work."

Sherry Jutkofsky, a teacher assistant at the school, said she knew he was in distress when she saw him with his hands around his throat.

Jutkofsky said she tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Strauss, but it didn't work, and she was afraid of hurting him.

Eventually, Jutkofsky said, she decided to try the maneuver one more time and it worked.

"It took a few attempts, though. They talked about that in the class. They told us not to be afraid to really get in there. It was a good class with great instructors. They taught us well," Jutkofsky said. "My mom said she is so thankful, and I am, too," Strauss said. "Thanks for saving my life!"