A 13-year-old boy from Lorain, Ohio, received recognition for his quick thinking and bravery when he saved a classmate from a potential life-threatening situation. Jacob Juchnik, a seventh grader at General Johnnie Wilson Middle School, acted swiftly to help a fellow student who had a seizure after falling and hitting his head.
The Incident
On the second-to-last day of school, while students were celebrating before the summer break, one student fell off a table and hit his head hard on the floor. The impact caused the student to have a seizure. As chaos started to spread, Jacob Juchnik remained calm and jumped into action.
Jacob’s Quick Response
Jacob knew exactly what needed to be done. “Some kids might either laugh or might just not care, but with me, I like to help people, and I just figured he needed help,” Jacob said, reflecting on his actions. He took off his hoodie and used it to cushion the student’s head, preventing further injury. Jacob then turned the student onto his side, making sure he wouldn’t choke, and kept talking to him, reassuring him until help arrived.
The Importance of Jacob’s Actions
Thanks to Jacob’s quick response, the student is expected to make a full recovery. Medical professionals later confirmed that if Jacob hadn’t acted so quickly, the student could have suffered severe brain damage or even death.
Jacob’s mother, Sarah Elkins, expressed how proud she was of her son’s heroic efforts. “Jake jumped in, took his hoodie off, got under the student’s head, cushioned his head with the hoodie, turned the student on his side and then held him down and kept repeating his name telling him that he was there for him until help arrived,” she said.
Recognition from Mayor Jack Bradley
Word of Jacob’s bravery spread quickly, and Lorain’s Mayor Jack Bradley took the opportunity to recognize the young hero. He presented Jacob with a proclamation, honoring his actions and acknowledging his courage.
Jacob, although surprised by the attention, expressed how humbling the recognition was. “Honestly, for me, it feels like I’m basically the president because I have all these people saying ‘oh you did such a great job’ ‘you’re a hero,’” Jacob shared.
A Heartwarming Conclusion
Thanks to Jacob’s quick thinking, a tragic situation was averted, and a young life was saved. His actions remind us that sometimes, even in the face of a crisis, a moment of courage can make all the difference.
