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NewsMay 20, 2012

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. -- They talked about calling 911 in Grace Varley's prekindergarten class. She must have been listening. The 4-year-old New York girl calmly dialed for help Wednesday after her younger brother choked on a piece of chicken and passed out...

The Associated Press

AMITYVILLE, N.Y. -- They talked about calling 911 in Grace Varley's prekindergarten class. She must have been listening.

The 4-year-old New York girl calmly dialed for help Wednesday after her younger brother choked on a piece of chicken and passed out.

A police officer who lived near the family's Amityville home was on the scene within moments. Officer John Adriella was able to dislodge the food and get the child breathing again.

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Now Gracie is being hailed as a hero. The police sergeant who took her call tells Newsday she was "cool and collected" on the line.

For a few minutes, the situation was desperate. A grandmother taking care of the children was unable to clear the boy's airway and had carried the child outside yelling for help.

He's doing fine now.

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