2 Hosack Elementary staffers recognized for saving student

Two staff members at North Allegheny’s Hosack Elementary School recently received the Chief’s Challenge Coin for saving a student from choking last fall.

Just a day before Halloween, April Wismer, a teacher, and Jenna Danka, a paraprofessional, noticed a student experiencing a medical emergency while eating, and eventually started choking.

Wismer and Danka immediately started CPR-lifesaving techniques to dislodge the food that was obstructing the child’s airway. The student was successfully rescued and needed no further medical assistance, according to Randy Gore, spokesperson for North Allegheny.

“Honestly, when it was happening, I just acted like anyone else would. Everything happened so fast. When I noticed the child was choking, I leaned them forward. Within seconds, the student was turning blue, which indicated they weren’t getting any oxygen. I then yelled for April to call 911. I got the student out of the chair, flipped them forward and began administering back blows. It was just instinct,” Danka said.

An inaugural presentation was held in December with North Allegheny Police chief Eric Harpster presenting the two staff members with the Chief’s Challenge Coin, a designation reserved for instances of outstanding service and acts of heroism.

Superintendent Dr. Brendan Hyland, Hosack principal Matt Heckman and Hosack police officer Patrick Moffatt also were present for the event.

Danka and Wismer are the first recipients of the coin.

“The Challenge Coin has been an American Military tradition for a century, meant to instill unit pride, improve esprit de corps and reward hard work and excellence,” Harpster said.

The coins have a rich military background, and represent anything from a small unit to the offices of top leaders, such as the defense secretary, Harpster said.

The coins can be used for challenges, rewards or awards for outstanding service, to recognize achievements and bravery and to promote unity. Throughout history these were used to commemorate the sacrifices and victories or performance of duty, he said.

Now the coins can be implemented at North Allegheny, such as the heroic act by Danka and Wismer.

“As such, they are used as a tool to build morale; challenge coins symbolize the unbreakable bond among those who protect and serve communities. Many service members, veterans, and police officers proudly display challenge coins at their desks or homes, showing off the many missions they’ve been on, the top leaders they’ve met, and the units they’ve worked for,” Harpster said.

While employees at NA are not required to have CPR training, instructional sessions are offered during the school year. All school nurses are trained in CPR, Gore said.