WALLINGFORD, Conn. — When Tony Sgroi’s mother, Tammy, taught him to use the Heimlich maneuver, he never thought he’d be using it during school, let alone on a good friend.

But on March 2, Sgroi, 15, lifted fellow Sheehan HS freshman Joe Barbiuto, 14, out of his seat and with three quick thrusts cleared his throat of gummy fruit snacks that had become lodged.

“He was coughing and grabbing his throat, he was making weird noises,” Tony said. “He couldn’t talk, he couldn’t breathe.”