Teen Saves Southern Ocean Baby's Life 2 Days After Learning CPR

TUCKERTON, NJ — An Ocean County Vocational Technical School student said recent classroom CPR training was put to use in Tuckerton, where she helped an infant in distress.

Ariana Leonardis, a student in the Human Development & Child Care Program at the OCVTS Brick Center, had finished learning CPR on Thursday. According to a district news release, Leonardis was walking with her cousin in Tuckerton on Saturday night when they heard a man yelling for help and realized a baby needed help.

“My cousin walked over and a lady who also was there said she didn’t speak much English and to call 911,” Leonardis said. “After he called the police, the woman told me her baby wasn’t breathing and I asked for permission to perform CPR.”

Leonardis said she began CPR before emergency responders arrived.

“I performed CPR and got her three-week-old baby to breathe again, and shortly after EMS and police arrived. They told me I did a great job, took my information, and thanked me,” she said.

The training was part of Leonardis’ coursework at OCVTS. First Aid and CPR training is a requirement for OCVTS students to have as part of the application process for the industry-standard credential, the Child Development Associate, according to the school.

Cherie Garrison Horhay, owner of Hands-on CPR Training in Toms River, returned to OCVTS on Monday to teach the First Aid portion of the class and learned about what had happened over the weekend.

“Knowledge is power. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation gives you the power to act,” Horhay said.

Michelle Keenan, Leonardis’ instructor at OCVTS, said she was stunned to hear how quickly her student responded.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Michelle Keenan, Leonardis’ instructor at OCVTS, after learning about how she sprung into action. “Ariana was so brave and calm that she was able to act and apply her knowledge.”

Keenan also praised Leonardis’ work in the classroom.

“Ariana is an excellent student. She has great energy, is responsible, and is an active participant in our classroom,” Keenan said.