A five-year-old kindergartner at Lynch Elementary School is doing well after choking on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich Wednesday, thanks to the fast action of the school's cafeteria manager, who performed the Heimlich maneuver until the boy could breathe again. Jacob Moss, the school's food and nutrition manager, was called into action after a school volunteer spotted the student, Byron King, hunched over a garbage can in distress.
According to FOX 13 News, a cafeteria monitor radioed for help once the volunteer flagged Byron's distress, and Moss responded within moments. He performed the Heimlich maneuver on the boy about four or five times before the sandwich material dislodged and Byron could breathe normally again. Moss then called 911, and paramedics arrived to evaluate the kindergartner, who is reported to be doing well.
A Skill Learned Decades Earlier in Scouting
Moss said he learned the Heimlich maneuver more than 25 years ago while in the Boy Scouts, per the same report. Scouting America offers Cub Scout activity instructions for demonstrating airway-obstruction relief. Moss described himself modestly, saying he was simply an everyday person who happened to be at the right moment.
Moss also encouraged everyone to learn life-saving techniques such as CPR and the Heimlich maneuver, the same account notes.
Honored Just Days Before the Rescue
Lynch Elementary recognized Moss as its 2026–27 Support Staff Member of the Year in a post celebrating his daily dedication and positive impact on students. Pinellas County Schools has since recognized Moss with a PCS Praise Certificate for his response during the emergency. Byron thanked Moss for helping him, and the two reunited Thursday in St. Petersburg, with school staff crediting a team effort in responding quickly to the crisis.
Why Choking Remains So Dangerous for Young Kids
The incident underscores just how quickly a routine school lunch can turn dangerous. Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional injury death among young children in the United States, claiming the life of approximately one child every five days, according to a Hasbro Children's page from Brown Health. Peanut butter and sticky or gooey foods are also possible choking causes.
MedlinePlus advises that anyone who has choked should receive a medical exam, as complications can result from choking or first-aid measures. Moss used abdominal thrusts to clear Byron's airway.
Part of a Broader Pattern in Florida Cafeterias
Byron's rescue echoes other recent Florida school incidents. A 9-year-old fourth grader at an Ocala elementary school saved a choking classmate using the Heimlich maneuver, earning honors from the local sheriff. Not every case ends this way — in March, an 8-year-old at Pomona Elementary in Manvel, Texas, died after choking on a grape despite staff performing the Heimlich maneuver and using an anti-choking device, a stark reminder that speed and circumstance both matter in these emergencies.
