By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
More heroics were recognized at Monday’s USD 428 Board of Education meeting as the R.O.S.E. Award was given to three members from Eisenhower Elementary School in Great Bend. R.O.S.E. stands for Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education. The award was created to honor individuals for their service to the school district.
During lunchtime on May 9, a student at Eisenhower was showing signs of distress. School board president Jacquie Disque said teacher Kelsey Strickland came to the student’s aid and determined that the student accidently swallowed the lid of a pop can, which was lodged in the student’s throat.
"Strickland then ran to get assistance from Cyleigh Unruh, the school nurse; and Abigail Jonas, the principal," said Disque. "These staff members tended to the student, kept the student calm and ensured the student received immediate medical attention."
Board vice-president Aaron Emerson presented the awards to the three Eisenhower staff members and personally thanked them as the student in need of help was his son.
"On a can of pop, there's the tab," said Emerson. "The lid is the part that sits over the hole. You push that down. I don't think I've ever seen one actually break off before."
The student was taken to the emergency room and required a surgical procedure to remove the pop can lid from their esophagus. The student made a complete recovery without any serious injuries.