Head Start Director Saves Choking Toddler at Waynesboro Family Meal

Yolanda Willis pulled a piece of candy from a 2-year-old boy’s throat during a family event at a Head Start center in Waynesboro, Georgia, on Thursday.

The emergency occurred at the Burke County school’s annual fall family meal, where more than 140 families gathered to eat and participate in classroom activities. Surveillance video from the center shows the boy, identified as Jo Freeman, standing in a hallway in distress while a guardian nearby attempted to assist him.

Willis, the program director, was approximately 20 feet away when she noticed the child’s condition. She described the scene immediately, noting that the boy was blue in the face. Willis rushed to Jo and began performing the Heimlich maneuver, executing several abdominal thrusts until the candy dislodged and the child could breathe again.

Jo’s mother, Felicia Freeman, said she stepped into the hallway as the commotion began. She stated that her son had put a piece of candy in his mouth, which lodged in his throat. Freeman said Willis immediately started the maneuver and retrieved the object.

Freeman described the moment as frightening and scary. She said she tried to remain calm to prevent panicking, which she believed could have worsened the situation. Freeman said she was in a state of shock at the time but grateful that Willis was present and trained.

Willis said she relied on her 25-plus years of experience in education and child care. She noted that she had previously performed CPR on a child and the Heimlich maneuver once before. Willis said she also had recently undergone surgery and was supposed to be under lifting restrictions, but she set those concerns aside to respond to the emergency.

Freeman said she learned about Willis’s recent surgery after the incident, which brought her to tears. She described Willis as an angel to their family and thanked her for being there. Freeman said her son has been thriving in the program and was able to continue his day after the scare.

The Head Start team said they hope the surveillance video, which has gained attention, will inspire more parents and caregivers to seek training in CPR and first aid. Willis said that for parents with toddlers, such training is a top priority. She stated the goal is to bring awareness to life-saving measures and ensure parents are prepared.

Freeman said she is thankful for the response of everyone involved. She noted that no one panicked and that her son is doing better. Willis said the experience reinforced the importance of being prepared for emergencies in a child care setting.