I'm choking and I can't get up!

**jflail2** · 12-23-2009 02:13 PM

Interesting events for me on Monday:

Gave some guy the Heimlich a couple of days ago. We had stopped for pizza at Papa Johns (since they wouldn't deliver with all the snow) and some lady comes running up to me screaming about her husband choking. He staggered out of his tow truck, drool running down his bluish face. She screamed "Help, what do I do?" so I screamed back "the heimlich." She screams back at me "I don't know how!" My ultra-classic answer "Just do it like they do on TV!" She screams back "I'm not big enough, I don't know how, what do I do?" So I scream back "call the f@cking cops then!" Some delivery guy was there, but he stood there like a statue, so I grabbed dude, made a fist like ...well, like on tv, and started basically trying to pull his guts up and through his back.

After a couple of good tugs he coughs up some huge piece of food he apparently tried to inhale and that was that.

Morals of the story: 1.) When poo hits the fan, do not panic. Panic turned the whole crowd into frozen statues. I think they'd have just watched the guy die in disbelief if someone hadn't taken charge. Create calm, assess the situation, act accordingly. And if you're too panicked to create calm, at least start barking orders to get everyone moving :)

2....) When in doubt, "do it like they do on tv!" (I still can't believe I said that...)

I had crazy shaky hands on the drive home, and a little different perspective on Christmas this year. At one point I wondered if I was doing it right/would break his ribs, but then I figured he'd rather have a broken rib than be dead...And my last resort was going to be punching him in the solar plexus as hard as I could, b/c I am skinny, and this guy was taller and heavier than me. I'll never know how I got him off the ground that forcefully 4-5 times before he coughed up his inhaled dinner..............

I got the hell out of there before the cops or ambulance showed up. I wanted pizza, not an hour discussion about some dude choking at Papa Johns.

So there's my excitement for the year. Carry on :)

**dudeinaroom** · 12-23-2009 02:18 PM

Good on you. Hope the pizza was good.

**RSTERN** · 12-23-2009 02:19 PM

You missed your free chance to just punch the guy in the gut, since no one else was doing anything.

**halo71** · 12-23-2009 02:22 PM

Cool story! Most people these days would probably had just stood there and watched.

I saved a turtle back in the summer from getting ran over in the road.

**muncybob** · 12-23-2009 02:35 PM

Glad you did something(good thing you watch enough TV!) and glad you didn't break a rib...he probably would have sued you~!

**hearingimpared** · 12-23-2009 02:46 PM

Good on you! I agree with muncybob about getting sued.

**Tony M** · 12-23-2009 03:03 PM

You saved a life!, man.

The greatest gift above all is to receive help from another human being that would prolong ones' Life. Heimlich, organ donating, surgeons etc.etc.

VERY SPECIAL GIFT YOU HANDED THAT MAN.

I APPLAUD YOU jflail2..;)

**everpress** · 12-23-2009 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by muncybob

Glad you did something(good thing you watch enough TV!) and glad you didn't break a rib...he probably would have sued you~!

I think most states have a 'good samaritan' law saying that if you harm someone while trying to save their life, you can't be sued.

Good job saving someone's life, man!

The only time you really have to worry about being to rough when trying to save a life is chest compressions for CPR... I mean, I guess if you are big enough you could crack a rib and puncture a lung from the Heimlich... But damn...

Fine job! You made sure several someones can celebrate Christmas another year!

**KASR** · 12-23-2009 03:14 PM

You saved a life - major kudos!

**jflail2** · 12-23-2009 03:14 PM

Hah, thanks Tony. I'd like to believe that had I not acted someone else would, so I didn't do anything super special.

Haha, and that was also my thought in regards to leaving ASAP after I got my pizza. I didn't want to spend an hour talking to the cops or whatever, and DEFINITELY wouldn't want to stick around to get sued for something like a broken rib.

And Rstern you're exactly right :) That could've been a 2 step crow hop to the chest freebie ;)

**Face** · 12-23-2009 03:15 PM

Great job!

**muncybob** · 12-23-2009 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by everpress

I think most states have a 'good samaritan' law saying that if you harm someone while trying to save their life, you can't be sued.

True, but that is the reason my wife(a nurse) would hesitate BIG TIME to helping somebody...if the slightest thing goes wrong she could lose her license regardless if she was negligent...just because she's a nurse!

Still, you have to feel good about saving a life!

**Ron-P** · 12-23-2009 03:41 PM

Wow, saving a life, that's a pretty damn big deal in my book.

**Fireman32** · 12-23-2009 03:44 PM

Awesome job man. Good for you

**superjunior** · 12-23-2009 03:53 PM

good for you man, that guy is lucky you had a hankerin for some papa johns!

**Jetmaker737** · 12-23-2009 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by jflail2

Panic turned the whole crowd into frozen statues. I think they'd have just watched the guy die in disbelief if someone hadn't taken charge. Create calm, assess the situation, act accordingly.

This is known phenomenon. In a crowd everyone assumes somebody else will take care of it... and so nobody does. If it's just a couple folks more than likely somebody will jump in to help.

Good work in stepping in to help.... shows you're more aware than the average Joe.

**Sherardp** · 12-23-2009 04:57 PM

Excellent work bro. Some guy will get to spend Christmas with his family.

**Lasareath** · 12-23-2009 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by jflail2

He staggered out of his tow truck

They should have given you their #, you should at least get free tows for life!

**Polkersince85** · 12-23-2009 05:09 PM

Good job. Because of you his life was saved.

**Polkersince85** · 12-23-2009 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lasareath

They should have given you their #, you should at least get free tows for life!

A true hero does not do things for gratuities, they do it because they are decent human beings.

**George Grand** · 12-23-2009 05:13 PM

A real credit to your Heimlich Maneuver instructor.

**jflail2** · 12-23-2009 05:28 PM

hah, Polker, I'm no hero. No way. The real heroes are the cops, firemen, etc that CHOOSE to face incidents like this (and obviously A LOT worse) and do it without hesitation. I just did what appeared necessary, or as our Indian analysts say, "I did the needful." That is all.

Mr. Grand, you are right. The more I think about it, the more it must have been Boy Scouts instincts kicking in (yes, I'm a geeky Eagle Scout :)), as I didn't think much about it once I assessed and got moving. Who knows, the whole thing was kind of a blur. Weird how something can feel like its going 2 billion miles an hour and slow motion all at the same time....

Thanks all, makes me feel good :) I thought it was just a neat story to share b/c it's not something I do everyday.

I know some of you DO, so hats off to all of you that deal with life or death situations on a daily basis. I don't think I have the intestinal fortitude to wake up every morning expecting that or worse everyday. Hats off to all of you.

**Hoosierbronco** · 12-23-2009 06:40 PM

There is another lesson here for everyone .......

TAKE A DANG CPR COURSE !!!

...even your younger kids. Here is why ...
You mentioned being somewhat smaller than the guy .
I guarantee you , a 9yr old girl or even younger possibly , can effectively perform the Heimlich on someone the size of a NFL linebacker.
I've seen it done ... (simulated).
Wanna know how ?
Take the course . :D

EDIT : I have never had a "Heimlich" course , it has always been part of the CPR /First Aid course.

**cfrizz** · 12-23-2009 07:12 PM

Way to go!

**Lasareath** · 12-23-2009 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Polkersince85

A true hero does not do things for gratuities, they do it because they are decent human beings.

let's hope the guys is not a child molester!

**jflail2** · 12-23-2009 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by Hoosierbronco

There is another lesson here for everyone .......

TAKE A DANG CPR COURSE !!!

...even your younger kids. Here is why ...
You mentioned being somewhat smaller than the guy .
I guarantee you , a 9yr old girl or even younger possibly , can effectively perform the Heimlich on someone the size of a NFL linebacker.
I've seen it done ... (simulated).
Wanna know how ?
Take the course . :D

EDIT : I have never had a "Heimlich" course , it has always been part of the CPR /First Aid course.

You sir hit the nail on the head. I'm looking for continuing ed classes at UVA as we speak. They'll occasionally have one off classes like CPR for example (and some really weird ones too...)

I am impressed a 9 year old could do that. I figured if I didn't jerk the absolute **** out of him, he wasn't going to cough it up. And yea, I'm 6 foot nothing and skinnier than a 2x4 sideways, so I definitely need instruction for a leg up. I got my first aid merit badge about 25 years ago, so I'm in need of a refresher :D

**bobman1235** · 12-23-2009 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Hoosierbronco

There is another lesson here for everyone .......

TAKE A DANG CPR COURSE !!!

...even your younger kids. Here is why ...
You mentioned being somewhat smaller than the guy .
I guarantee you , a 9yr old girl or even younger possibly , can effectively perform the Heimlich on someone the size of a NFL linebacker.
I've seen it done ... (simulated).
Wanna know how ?
Take the course . :D

EDIT : I have never had a "Heimlich" course , it has always been part of the CPR /First Aid course.

Hell, you can give YOURSELF the Heimlich if you can find a freakin' chair. Another thing they teach you in the class.

It boggles the mind that they teach most middle / high schoolers how to sew a god damned shirt or make a birdhouse but don't bother to teach basic lifesaving skills.

**Sherardp** · 12-24-2009 06:02 AM

Originally Posted by Hoosierbronco

There is another lesson here for everyone .......

TAKE A DANG CPR COURSE !!!

...even your younger kids. Here is why ...
You mentioned being somewhat smaller than the guy .
I guarantee you , a 9yr old girl or even younger possibly , can effectively perform the Heimlich on someone the size of a NFL linebacker.
I've seen it done ... (simulated).
Wanna know how ?
Take the course . :D

EDIT : I have never had a "Heimlich" course , it has always been part of the CPR /First Aid course.

Been there, done that while in the USMC. Could definitely use a refresher though. Will definitely sign up.

**potee** · 12-24-2009 11:14 AM

You may not feel like a hero but his family sure as hell does I'm sure. That you kept your cool is great. God blessed him thru you. Have a super christmas.

**TNRabbit** · 12-24-2009 11:27 AM

Good on ya, man!

I had to do the Heimlich on a guy I worked with about 20 years ago. We were sitting at lunch & he started turning purple.... I just jumped up & gave him 3 hard squeezes while he was still in the chair & it dislodged the obstruction~

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