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

“I could barely breathe,” she says. 

Kaliyah jumped out of bed to investigate. She found a fire blazing on the kitchen stove. And the flames were spreading. 

Kaliyah didn’t panic. A fire drill at her school had taught her exactly what to do. She held a cloth in front of her nose and mouth to block the smoke. Then Kaliyah dropped to the ground, where there’s less smoke. 

She crawled to her mom’s bedroom to wake her up. Then she helped carry her younger siblings outside.

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,” she says. 

Kaliyah jumped out of bed. She wanted to investigate. She found a fire blazing on the kitchen stove. The flames were spreading. 

Kaliyah didn’t panic. She knew exactly what to do. She had learned at a fire drill at her school. She held a cloth in front of her nose and mouth. The cloth blocked the smoke. Then Kaliyah dropped to the ground, where there’s less smoke. 

She crawled to her mom’s bedroom to wake her up. Then she helped carry her younger siblings outside.

Firefighters arrived. They 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.”

Last June, twins Christian and Bridon were playing with their friend Sam. The brothers’ dad, Brad Hassig, was in a nearby pool. The boys noticed he wasn’t moving in the water.

“His face was turning blue,” Christian says.

Bridon and Sam pulled Hassig out of the pool. Christian ran for help. He stopped a car and asked the driver to call 911. 

Bridon started CPR. It’s a way to help someone who isn’t breathing. Bridon pushed his hands into his dad’s chest. After a few minutes, Hassig coughed up water. 

Paramedics arrived and took Hassig to the hospital. Today he’s back to himself— thanks to the boys’ quick thinking.

Bridon’s Tip: “Don’t 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 a nearby pool. The boys noticed he wasn’t moving.

“His face was turning blue,” Christian says.

Bridon and Sam pulled Hassig out of the pool. Christian ran for help. He stopped a car. Then he asked the driver to call 911. 

Bridon started CPR. It’s a way to help someone who isn’t breathing. Bridon pushed his hands into his dad’s chest. After a few minutes, Hassig coughed up water. 

Paramedics arrived and took Hassig to the hospital. Today he’s back to himself—thanks to the boys’ quick thinking.

Bridon’s Tip: “Don’t swim by yourself. Always have someone with you.”

In April 2023, Jake and his friend Kyan Burton were in their fourth-grade classroom. Suddenly, Kyan started choking on a piece of candy.

Their teacher, Althea Dixon, started doing the Heimlich maneuver (HIGHM-lik mah-NU-ver). That can save someone who’s choking. From behind, she wrapped her arms around Kyan’s abdomen. Then she made her hands into a fist and pushed upward against Kyan’s stomach. But the candy was still stuck in Kyan’s throat. 

Dixon had to stop to call the school office to ask for help. That’s when Jake jumped into action. He started performing the Heimlich maneuver on Kyan. Before long, the piece of candy popped out. 

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

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

In April, Jake and his friend Kyan Burton were in their fourth-grade classroom. Suddenly, Kyan started choking on a piece of candy.

Their teacher, Althea Dixon, tried to help him. She started doing the Heimlich maneuver (HIGHM-lik mah-NU-ver). That can save someone who’s choking. From behind, she wrapped her arms around Kyan’s abdomen. Then she made her hands into a fist and pushed upward against Kyan’s stomach. But the candy was still stuck in Kyan’s throat. 

Dixon had to stop to call the school office to ask for help. That’s when Jake jumped into action. He started performing the Heimlich maneuver on Kyan. Before long, the candy popped out. 

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

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