Nashville Elementary School Principal Saves Choking Child

MADISON, TN — On a whim, new Amqui Elementary School principal Latoya Cobb decided to ride the bus after school Tuesday and that whim helped save a little girl's life.

Cobb told NewsChannel 5 she only planned to stay on the bus for its first run, but then decided she'd stick around for the second and as the bus was making its rounds, she noticed 5-year-old kindergartner Lakiya Myles looking out of sorts.

"I moved closer and I noticed she couldn't breathe. I immediately grabbed her, turned her around and performed the Heimlich. After two thrusts, then she spit up and the candy flew out of her mouth," Cobb told the station.

Myles' grandmother, Melissa Corlew, said she had to perform the Heimlich on Lakiya's mother when she too was five.

Cobb told WTVF she'll be using the incident as a teachable moment for her students so they can recognize when a classmate may be in danger.

"There are tragedies that happen all the time where schools lose students. I've experienced that before. So I'm just grateful that's not something I've had to experience on Tuesday," Cobb said.

Watch Now: Elementary School Principal Saves Choking Child

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