ALVIN, Texas – The death of a third grader following a choking incident at Pomona Elementary School in Alvin ISD this week has left a community grieving and sparked renewed concerns among parents about classroom safety requirements in Texas.
District officials say the student began choking during snack time. The teacher immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver and called for the school nurse. Campus police and EMS responded within minutes. The child was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
Alvin ISD says its teachers are trained to respond to choking incidents, and nurses are on every campus. Still, some parents say the tragedy raises broader questions about whether statewide requirements go far enough.
Questions about CPR and training requirements
“Well, everybody should know CPR and the Heimlich maneuver just in case,” said James Goodwin. “I don’t think it’d take that long to put everybody through a CPR class.”
Under Texas law, school districts must make CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training available to employees. Certain staff — including school nurses, coaches and some extracurricular sponsors — are required to maintain certification. However, CPR certification is not mandatory for every classroom teacher.
The state also does not require public schools to have a nurse on every campus.
“I think they should be available — definitely for elementary, especially lower elementary,” Goodwin said.
Teachers as first responders
Elizabeth Knot, a former teacher, said educators are often the first line of response in emergencies.
“Teachers are that leader in the classroom,” Knot said. “You can just turn your back for a second and next thing you know, you’ve got a situation on your hands.”
Knot said if she were sending a child to elementary school, she would want clear information about emergency procedures — including how teachers are trained to respond to medical incidents.
Parental fears and calls for change
For first-time parent Hector Saldarriaga, the tragedy highlights fears many parents already carry.
“CPR — that should be like one of the first things,” he said. “Choking is serious. I’m just trying to make sure [my child] safe. That’s it.”
According to the Texas Education Agency, student deaths are reported for grades seven through twelve as part of state data submissions, but the reports do not specify the cause or location of death. Texas law also does not require school districts to staff every campus with a nurse, though certain students with individualized education programs requiring nursing care would necessitate access to one.
As the Alvin ISD community mourns, some parents say they hope the heartbreaking loss leads to a closer look at whether additional training requirements could help prevent future tragedies.
Alvin ISD released this statement following the student’s death:
Alvin ISD is an organization deeply committed to the care and wellbeing of each of our students.
Today, our district is grieving deeply over the loss of one of our beloved students at Pomona Elementary. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with our student’s family, and we stand by ready to offer care and assistance in any way possible.
The District’s Crisis Response team has been at Pomona Elementary to provide support both to students and staff that are impacted by this exceedingly difficult loss. At this time, we graciously ask for the community’s prayers, respect, snd sensitivity for the student’s family.
Alvin ISD
Alvin ISD also responded to a list of questions we asked them.
What is your district’s current policy on having a licensed nurse physically present on each campus during school hours, and how do you determine nurse staffing levels (e.g., nurse-to-student ratio)?
Aldine ISD has a licensed nurse assigned to every campus, and nurses are on duty during the school day to support student health and safety.
Are all teachers and campus staff required to be trained and certified in CPR, first aid, and choking-response (e.g., Heimlich maneuver)? If so, how often must these certifications be updated?
It is not a requirement for all teachers and staff to be trained in CPR/First Aid in Aldine ISD. We provide frequent CPR/First Aid/AED training opportunities for staff and community members through the American Red Cross. Several Aldine ISD nurses are certified instructors who conduct these trainings within the district. First Aid for a choking person is included in the American Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED training.CPR/First Aid/AED certification is valid for two years through the American Red Cross. Campus Cardiac Emergency Response Team members complete training annually to maintain readiness. School nurses also complete CPR/AED training annually.
What specific protocols and procedures do campuses follow when a student is choking or experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, including communication with emergency services and parent notification?
When a student is choking or experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency, campuses follow established emergency response procedures designed for rapid action and clear communication.
Do your campuses have a school nurse or medical professional on-duty during operating hours?
Yes. Aldine ISD has a licensed nurse assigned to every campus who is on duty during the school day.
How often does your district conduct medical emergency drills (including choking simulations), and are these drills documented and evaluated for effectiveness?
All Aldine ISD campuses maintain a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP). The campus nurse collaborates with campus administration to establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Team, define roles, and train staff on emergency response procedures. Each campus is required to conduct two cardiac emergency response drills annually:
- One during the first semester (by the end of September)
- One during the second semester (by the end of February)
After each drill, the school nurse completes a drill debrief form to evaluate effectiveness, identify gaps, determine whether staff retraining is needed, and revise the campus Cardiac Emergency Response Plan if necessary.
How does the district track and review medical emergencies that occur on campus, and what steps are taken to update policies or training based on those reviews?
Medical emergencies and drills are documented through district reporting and drill-debrief processes. When a medical emergency occurs on the campus, the campus nurse must complete the Health Services Incident and Emergency Transfer Report Form, which comes directly to the Director of Health Services. In addition to this report, campus administrators must complete an after-action report that is to be sent to the Office of Emergency Management. Information gathered from these reviews is used to:
- Strengthen training
- Improve campus emergency response planning
- Clarify staff roles
- Update procedures when needed
This continuous-improvement process helps ensure campuses remain prepared to respond to medical emergencies.
What barriers (such as funding, staffing, or training resources) does the district face in ensuring full nurse coverage and comprehensive CPR/medical training for all staff, and how is the district addressing them?
Challenges include:
- Workforce shortages, including hiring and retaining licensed nurses.
- Time allotment for training campus nurses and emergency staff
- Limited staff participation in available training opportunities, often due to scheduling constraints and competing responsibilities.
To address this, Aldine ISD Health Services:
- Use a medical staffing agency to contract licensed nurses for school vacancies
- Provide comprehensive training for contracted nurses before being placed on a campus
- Offers CPR/First Aid/AED training sessions throughout the school year
- Provides Saturday training opportunities
- Extends training access to both district staff and the community
- Utilizes district nurses who are certified CPR instructors to expand training capacity
These efforts help increase access to lifesaving training and strengthen campus emergency preparedness. Student safety is our highest priority in Aldine ISD. Having a licensed nurse on every campus, maintaining trained cardiac emergency response teams, and conducting regular emergency drills ensures that our schools are prepared to respond quickly and effectively when medical emergencies occur. Our Health Services team remains committed to equipping staff with the knowledge, training, and confidence needed to protect the health and well-being of every student we serve.
How other Houston-area districts compare
In response to this incident, KPRC 2 News reporter Joy Addison reached out to the five largest school districts in the Houston area — Houston Independent School District (HISD), the largest in Texas with more than 175,000 students; Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (CFISD), with about 117,000 students; Katy ISD, serving roughly 96,000 students; Aldine ISD, with more than 56,000 students; and Klein ISD, with more than 52,000 students — to ask about their nurse staffing policies, CPR and first aid requirements, emergency protocols, medical drill frequency, how they review on-campus medical incidents and what barriers they face in maintaining coverage and training.
Many districts are on break this week, and so far only Katy ISD has responded.
Katy ISD
Katy ISD says every campus is staffed with one registered nurse and one clinic aide during school hours. Each campus maintains an Emergency Response Team, with required members — including the nurse, clinic aide and campus safety liaison — certified in CPR, AED use, First Aid and Stop the Bleed. Coaches, sponsors and directors are also trained in CPR and First Aid.
The district says that in a choking or life-threatening emergency, staff immediately render aid, notify the nurse and administration, activate the district’s RAPTOR emergency alert system, call 911 and contact Katy ISD Police Department Dispatch to ensure a rapid response. District officials say student safety remains a top priority, with protocols designed for swift and coordinated action.