ROCKTON, Ill. (WTVO) — Hononegah High School Senior Cassidy Davenport jumped into lifesaving action when someone was screaming for help and saved a choking child at a Rockford Target store.

“Somebody needed help because somebody came in screaming asking me for help, so I just threw everything on the ground and I grabbed my keychain because I had these CPR face shields to put on the people who need it,” said Davenport. “And I ran over there. I threw it on the table, and then I started my CPR compressions.”

“I gave 30 compressions of CPR, and then I had her breathing before I had to do mouth-to-mouth,” said Davenport. “Then I flipped her over and did back thrusts and then the Heimlich. And then out came the cookie.”

Davenport said that she did not know when becoming CPR certified would come into play, but just three weeks after certification she used her life-saving skills. Her dad was a firefighter which motivated her to do the training.

“So I was on a field trip from a high school and they like, allowed us to go if we wanted to, and get CPR certified,” said Davenport. “I thought it was just a great idea to do it just in case because you never know if you’ll need it or not.”

Davenport hopes her efforts and story will inspire more people to get certified. She said it is a scary decision to step in and help, a decision she did not even think twice about doing.

The Winnebago County Board and the Village of Machesney Park honored her with a civilian lifesaving award. Police at the scene praised Davenport giving her credit for being so young and yet so ready to jump in to help.

“I wasn’t expecting any of this. Honestly, I was not just expecting to walk out of there saving a life, getting CPR certified,” said Davenport. “It doesn’t take long. It doesn’t cost a lot. And I think everybody needs it.”

Davenport will be pursuing a career in nursing at Rock Valley College after graduating from Hononegah High School.