One night last fall, Kaliyah woke up around 2 a.m. She smelled smoke.

“I could barely breathe,” Kaliyah recalls.

She sprang out of bed to investigate and saw a fire blazing on the stove in the kitchen. The flames were starting to spread. 

Kaliyah didn’t panic. Thanks to a fire drill at her school, she knew exactly what to do. She held a bandanna in front of her nose and mouth to block the smoke. Then she dropped to the ground, where there’s less smoke. Kaliyah crawled to her mom’s bedroom to wake her up. Then she woke up her younger siblings. She even put some of them over her shoulder and carried them outside.

“I was scared, but I was more focused on trying to get everybody out,” Kaliyah says.

Firefighters arrived and put out the flames. The house was destroyed. But because of Kaliyah, no one was hurt. 

Kaliyah’s Tip: “Try not to panic. If you do, you won’t be able to think clearly.”

One night last fall, Kaliyah woke up around 2 a.m. She smelled smoke.

“I could barely breathe,” Kaliyah recalls.

She sprang out of bed to investigate. That’s when she saw a fire. It was blazing on the stove in the kitchen. The flames were starting to spread. 

Kaliyah didn’t panic. Thanks to a fire drill at her school, she knew exactly what to do. She held a bandanna in front of her nose and mouth. This blocked the smoke. Then she dropped to the ground, where there’s less smoke. Kaliyah crawled to her mom’s bedroom to wake her up. Then she woke up her younger siblings. She even put some of them over her shoulder and carried them outside.

“I was scared, but I was more focused on trying to get everybody out,” Kaliyah says.

Firefighters arrived and put out the flames. The house was destroyed. But because of Kaliyah, no one was hurt. 

Kaliyah’s Tip: “Try not to panic. If you do, you won’t be able to think clearly.”

The morning started out like any other. Last April, Jake and his friend Kyan Burton were in their fourth-grade classroom, finishing a reading test. Suddenly, Kyan started choking. A piece of candy was lodged in his throat.

Their teacher, Althea Dixon, rushed over. She started performing the Heimlich (HIGHM-lik) maneuver. That’s a special technique that can help save someone who’s choking. She stood behind Kyan and wrapped her arms around his abdomen. Then she made her hands into a fist and pushed upward against Kyan’s stomach. But the candy wouldn’t budge. 

That’s when Jake jumped in. He continued doing the Heimlich maneuver while Dixon called the school office to ask for help. Jake had learned the technique at home a few years earlier. Before long, the piece of candy popped out. 

“I was relieved,” Jake says. “It felt good to save him.”

Jake’s Tip: “Listen to the voice inside you. It can help you make decisions, especially in an emergency.” 

The morning started out like any other. Last April, Jake and his friend Kyan Burton were in their fourth-grade classroom. They were finishing a reading test. Suddenly, Kyan started choking. A piece of candy was lodged in his throat.

Their teacher, Althea Dixon, rushed over. She started performing the Heimlich (HIGHM-lik) maneuver. That’s a special technique that can help save someone who’s choking. She stood behind Kyan. She wrapped her arms around his abdomen. Then she made her hands into a fist and pushed upward against Kyan’s stomach. But the candy wouldn’t budge. 

That’s when Jake jumped in. He continued doing the Heimlich maneuver while Dixon called the school office to ask for help. Jake had learned the technique at home a few years earlier. Before long, the piece of candy popped out. 

“I was relieved,” Jake says. “It felt good to save him.”

Jake’s Tip: “Listen to the voice inside you. It can help you make decisions, especially in an emergency.” 

In June 2022, twins Christian and Bridon were playing with their friend Sam. The brothers dad, Brad Hassig, was in the pool nearby. Christian saw that something was wrong. His dad was slumped over.

"His face was turning blue," Christian says.

Bridon and Sam jumped into the pool and pulled Hassig out. Christian ran for help. He flagged down a car and told the driver to call 911.

Meanwhile, Bridon started CPR. That's a technique used when someone isn't breathing. Bridon pushed both of his hands into his dad's chest. At first, nothing happened. But after a few minutes, Hassig coughed up water. When paramedics arrived, they took Hassig to the hospital. He has since fully recovered—thanks to the boys' quick thinking.

Bridon's Tip: "Do not swim by yourself. Always have someone with you."

In June 2022, twins Christian and Bridon were playing with their friend Sam. Brad Hassig is the brothers’ dad. He was in the pool nearby. Christian saw that something was wrong. His dad was slumped over.

“His face was turning blue,” Christian says.

Bridon and Sam jumped into the pool. They pulled Hassig out. Christian ran for help. He flagged down a car and told the driver to call 911. 

Meanwhile, Bridon started CPR. That’s a technique used when someone isn’t breathing. Bridon pushed both of his hands into his dad’s chest. At first, nothing happened. But after a few minutes, Hassig coughed up water. 

When paramedics arrived, they took Hassig to the hospital. He has since fully recovered. And it’s all thanks to the boys’ quick thinking.

Bridon's Tip: "Do not swim by yourself. Always have someone with you."