It’s a good thing Ariana Leonardis was paying attention in class on Oct. 22. She’s a student in the Human Development and Child Care Program at the Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Brick Center and had just finished learning CPR.
Little did Leonardis know her resuscitation skills would be put to the test only two days later.
The 16-year-old Pinelands Regional High School junior was walking with her cousin in Tuckerton when they heard a man yelling for help, and despite a language barrier, they were able to quickly figure out an infant was in distress.
“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. I performed CPR and got her 3-week-old baby to breathe again, and shortly after (Great Bay Regional) EMS and police arrived. They told me I did a great job, took my information, and thanked me.”
A cheerleader and member of the varsity girls lacrosse team, Leonardis said that despite the extreme urgency of the situation, she did not panic.
“I kept calm and remembered what I had to do,” she said. Leonardis said she performed a series of chest compressions and back hits that restored breathing.
Cherie Garrison Horhay, owner of Hands-on CPR Training in Toms River, learned about Leonardis’ heroic efforts when she returned to OCVTS to teach the first aid portion to the class.
“Knowledge is power. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation gives you the power to act,” Horhay said.
First aid and CPR training is a requirement for OCVTS students to have as part of the application process for the industry-standard Child Development Associate credential.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Michelle Keenan, Leonardis’ instructor at OCVTS, after learning about how she sprang into action. “Ariana was so brave and calm that she was able to act and apply her knowledge.”
Keenan added, “Ariana is an excellent student. She has great energy, is responsible, and is an active participant in our classroom.”
CPR and first aid training are essential components of the OCVTS Human Development and Childcare Shared-Time Program, preparing students with the knowledge and skills to help protect the health, safety and well-being of young children. Through hands-on learning and practical experience in a developmentally appropriate nursery school setting, students learn to supervise and guide preschoolers, support daily routines, and promote a safe learning environment. This training not only helps students work toward earning the nationally recognized Child Development Associate credential, but also equips them with the confidence to respond to emergencies when every second counts. Leonardis’ actions are a powerful example of how career-focused education and hands-on training can make a life-saving difference beyond the classroom.
Leonardis is eyeing a career as a preschool teacher.
“I felt that this was an important skill to learn since I would be working with young children,” she said.
