A student at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in Binghampton, New York, was eating pizza when he began to choke.  A friend across the table, 7-year-old David Diaz, Jr., saw what was happening and jumped into action.  Diaz got behind his friend, wrapped his arms around him, and performed the Heimlich maneuver.

The Heimlich maneuver, also known as an abdominal thrust, is a first-aid procedure in which a person must apply pressure between someone else's navel and rib cage in order to dislodge an obstruction in the victim's windpipe, according to the National Library of Medicine. 

Kristin Korba, a second-grade teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary, told Fox News Digital that “adults were circulating the cafeteria, monitoring," but David was the first to notice his friend’s predicament and immediately responded.  “I went over right after it happened and checked [on the student who choked],” Korba added.  “He was cleared by the nurse and parents [were] contacted.”

Diaz is being hailed as a hero for his lifesaving actions.  On June 13, Binghamton City School District superintendent Dr. Tonia Thompson and New York State Sen. Fred Akshar came to the elementary school to present a New York State Senate Commendation Award to Diaz.

Diaz said he learned the Heimlich maneuver when he was watching a TV medical drama with his father, David Diaz, Sr.

“If anybody is choking or is in danger, you always have to save them,” Diaz told Fox News Digital during a recent phone interview.  “If you don’t, then that could be really sad,” the boy added. *

When our sins were “choking” the life out of us, Jesus responded to rescue us.  “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6 NIV).

Our salvation cost Jesus His life, for only the sinless Son of God could pay the price for our sins.  He willingly laid down His life for us (John 10:17-18).  Because of His heroic deed, we can be saved from our sins and receive the gift of eternal life.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

When we were struggling for life, Jesus came to our rescue.  He is a friend indeed.  Won’t YOU accept His loving offer of salvation and eternal life by submitting to Him in trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from “NY elementary school student, age 7, saves choking classmate with Heimlich maneuver” by Courtney Moore of Fox News, www.foxnews.com.

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

Archived issues of Living Water can be viewed and accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org