School Tales: So much for the 'CALL' button

There is a delightful little device in my classroom- the "CALL" button. With a simple touch of this button I can call the school administration in a pinch. It sure has bailed me out when I've had crazy students who needed to be straightjacketed escorted to the AP's office.

Today I called upon the services of the CALL button again, but for a different reason. One of my students started choking on gum. She couldn't breathe or talk and I was worried. My other students went into a frenzy. Naturally, they were frightened but they are 8th graders so they had to over-dramatize everything. I didn't really panic or anything, but it was at that moment that I realized I forgot how to do the Heimlich maneuver. Oh no!

Oh dear CALL button, please come through.

I asked for a nurse and continued to attend to my student. We waited. And we waited. No nurse. After a few minutes, the student began breathing again, praise the LORD! Ten more minutes transpired and still no nurse. By that time, the student was breathing and talking normally so I walked her down to the nurse's office myself. Forget you, CALL button. Next time I'll know to whip out my phone and call for an ambulance.