Jonathan Jewth, 9-Year-Old New York City Boy, Dies After Choking On Meatballs In School Cafeteria

NEW YORK -- Family members and a witness say a New York City fourth grader choked on meatballs during lunch earlier this month while school cafeteria workers stood by. The boy later died.

A parent at the school, Andrea Perez, told the newspaper she saw the boy choking but cafeteria workers did nothing. She said at one point they yelled at him to put his fingers down his throat.

"He was on the ground and not moving after a while," Perez said through a Spanish-speaking translator. "Nobody was paying attention and they didn't know how to give aid, nobody knew what to do."

She said she did not know how to resuscitate the boy so she called 911 and started screaming for help. Another parent tried to help the boy, the newspaper reported.

Jewth was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center. Jonathan's family told the newspaper he suffered brain damage and died Monday.

Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott said his death was a tragedy. Education officials haven't responded to requests for comment about the family's and Perez's account.

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Comments

[mytoyz973]

03:54 PM on 11/22/2012

lol

[Therealkarmabug]

11:36 AM on 12/21/2011

What a sad and tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. Anyone who works in, near, or around children should be CPR certified. It must be different for each state, because where I work it is mandated by law they be trained in first aid. My second thought on this is....WTF the cafeteria workers didn't have enough brains to look at the posters posted up on the walls on how to do the hymlic or CPR? Aren't they by federal law suppose to be in clear view of all employees in case they need to reference them? Oh, but wait I forgot the instructions must have been in English only, because this article said they needed a translator( gee what a surprise school employees who can't even speak or read English) . As a school faculty member this is a horrible, needless death, that upsets me. I hope the school is brought up on charges for hiring incompetent idiots.

[M PM]

04:06 PM on 01/04/2012

The parent needed translation, not the workers!!! The parent who tried saving the boy's life. Learn to read before judging or condemning people.

[onlyway2goisup]

08:12 AM on 12/21/2011

'that school health staff must have CPR training but are not required to be in the cafeteria.'

this should change to make certain that kids are AS SECURE AS POSSTBLE....so they would always be as safe as possible

[tazmodious]

09:24 PM on 12/20/2011

Before you delve into this blog, it would behoove you to know that the author of this article left out most of the pertinent information relating to this incident. Here is a short section of a more comprehensive NY Daily News article on the same incident that should help answer some of the pressing questions author of the HP article leaves to the reader.

"City Education Department records show the incident happened at 12:15 p.m., but EMS did not receive a 911 call until 12:29 p.m., 14 minutes later, Fire Department officials said.

Jewth’s 45-year-old cousin Indira Ramrup — who provided the family’s account of the accident — said there were few adults in the lunchroom at the time. She also said that a school security guard had already left the cafeteria to take his own lunch break.

The official Department of Education records note that a parent and then an assistant principal tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver before the child went unconscious. They continued their efforts to revive the child until EMS arrived, the school records show."

"School administrators declined to comment about the incident. City Department of Education officials said that school health staff must have CPR training but are not required to be in the cafeteria.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/fourth-grader-dead-choking-meatball-lunch-bronx-public-school-47-article-1.992778#ixzz1h8FCPfo6

[flussferdchen]

09:03 PM on 12/20/2011

what is tragic is about the same time here we have a story about a NINE YEAR OLD who saved his pal from choking on a metal piece because he at least TRIED TO HELP. How is it that all these "school cafeteria workers" stood around and did NOTHING as this child choked? Criminal.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/louisvillewlky-23824963/fourth-grader-saves-choking-classmate-27622955.html

[flussferdchen]

09:00 PM on 12/20/2011

so tragic, and here is a similar case, where a NINE YEAR OLD BOY saved his pal from choking on a metal tag. HOW is it that a 9 year old can at least attempt to help, while all these school cafeteria workers did NOTHING to aid the child? Criminal.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/louisvillewlky-23824963/fourth-grader-saves-choking-classmate-27622955.html

[onlyway2goisup]

08:17 PM on 12/20/2011

i guess what bothers me most is the zooming in on innocent bloggers who have a need to voice themselves after reading about things like this....then some smart aleck persons become rude when you're trying to make heads or tails over such tragedy...mostly .these folks are from huff post.at a time that some of them are blogging with lots of badges and fans....which seems a bit sad to me when this format is to voice oneself and not be involved with rude arguments...please someone take charge of the bloodhounds who hone in on certain ones and give silly criticisms waisting others time instead of doing their job...i had found myself explaining overmuch to those saying things who if they could read carefully they would come up with an understanding of what's written...also one of the folks wrote and complained about the several blogs of people.....there is nothing written to say that this is a problem...some have more to say then others whether right or wrong...

[whypee]

12:14 PM on 12/20/2011

"A parent at the school, Andrea Perez, told the newspaper she saw the boy choking but cafeteria workers did nothing. She said at one point they yelled at him to put his fingers down his throat."

So this parent, also saw, and did nothing. If she was there at lunchtime, she is probably a volunteer, which means it is her job to supervise the children and assist the staff.

[ChaCubed]

12:48 AM on 12/20/2011

I once heard that being a parent is like taking your heart out of your chest, sticking little arms and legs on it, and watching it go bumping and stumbling out the door, to forever feel tenfold every joy and pain your child feels.

I can only imagine what the parents and the parents of the parents of this beautiful little boy are feeling.

[Lois Salem]

07:52 PM on 12/19/2011

Great- now they're gonna want to ban meatballs.

[kcwookie]

04:07 PM on 12/19/2011

Within four minutes brain damage can occur. 911 responders don't save choking victims, bystanders save choking victims. Before blaming anyone involved in this case ask yourself the real question is, "Do I know what to do?" If you don't, honor the memory of Jonathan and get trained.

[Joan Bogorae]

02:06 PM on 12/19/2011

Whether it was someones job to help or not ,it is pathetic that young boy had to die.Unbelievable behavior.The school nurse should have been called and 911 also.So sad for the family of that little boy.

[saaba]

11:41 AM on 12/27/2011

Yes, every NYC public school has a school nurse on staff!! Why wasn't she or he called?

[Ross Rossanna]

01:03 PM on 12/19/2011

So let me guess it's the lunch lady's fault this kids PARENTS didnt teach him to eat slowley ,take smaller bites of food chew it 36 times before swollowing dont play or talk while your eating.....? Yes everyone should be taught first aid and what to do when someone is choking...poor kid....dont they usaly have a lady that walks around the cafiteria making sure kids are eating ...not fighting ..goofing off....boy school has changed since i have been there....

[BeanBoo]

03:52 PM on 12/19/2011

I don't really think you can blame the kid's parents for this. All parents, that I know, teach their children the importance of eating slowly to avoid choking. However, you're young and excited and want to get your food down as fast as possible so you have more time to talk with your friends. Accidents happen and it's extremely unfortunate.

[kcwookie]

04:09 PM on 12/19/2011

Words can not express my opinion of your post.

[GOODDOC1]

06:28 PM on 12/19/2011

Mine could, but I'm sure the moderators wouldn't let them through.

[ladyangelnyc]

11:48 AM on 12/19/2011

What happened to the posters that showed people how to administer the Heimlich? When I was in school they use to be everywhere in the cafeteria. I know its been a while but has school changed so much they don't think they need it or something?

[daughterusmc]

01:15 PM on 12/19/2011

I thought that too.

[kcwookie]

04:10 PM on 12/19/2011

Posters don't save live as much as training and experience. If you don't know how to do it, or haven't practiced it recently, honor Jonathan and get refreshed.

[ladyangelnyc]

05:00 PM on 12/19/2011

The Heimlich Maneuver posters are some of the easiest First Aid poster to comprehend. If that poster was there someone could have figured out what to do and his life could have been saved. That's why they were there in the first place when we were kids.

[Nalee]

11:41 AM on 12/19/2011

Instead of just standing there looking at the child, why didn't someone call the nurse? that would be utilizing common sense.

[GOODDOC1]

06:30 PM on 12/19/2011

They may not have had a full time nurse there. That's why it's so important the workers be educated.