Salem Palmer, 10, is the newest recipient of the Mayor's Medal of Appreciation award. Palmer is a student at Highland Elementary School.
Tuesday night, Palmer was recognized for his fast actions in saving the life of a fellow student who was choking on a piece of pizza during lunch. Palmer put his CPR skills to work and performed the Heimlich maneuver, dislodging the stuck piece of food.
"Well, first I saw an ambulance, a supervisors unit outside so I knew something was going on. Then I saw him and he came up to me. That's when I knew," said Palmer.
Palmer was also recognized this summer by the Kern County Fire Department when he helped save his neighbor's home from a fire.
