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Noted in Passing: Those who live alone should pay special heed


Presented here as a public service complete with rave review by Michael Montenegro

Hey Jeff! I am literally emailing 30 minutes after using your technique on myself as I was choking on a thick sliver of a carrot from my dinner. I was choking and my wife didn’t know what to do, she slapped my back, then ran to the grab the phone to call 911. As I was starting to panic and slightly getting blurred vision, your video literally flashed in my head. I grabbed my first, placed it upon my diaphragm and literally lunged forward onto the ground and suddenly the carrot shot out of my mouth. I just wanted to thank you for creating this video and I will be sending it out to family and friends to show them how important this is. Thanks you! Mike

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • jwm September 20, 2022, 7:32 PM

    You da best, Gerard.
    Thanks.

    JWM

  • Jeffersonian September 20, 2022, 8:45 PM

    You have saved a life. God bless you.
    Last Thanksgiving weekend, i was spending with my lovely lady. Her cats were shedding a lot. Normally they don’t bother my allergies much. I combed out the first one. No problem. Started the second and bam! Fleghm dump. Choked on it and could barely breathe. She didn’t know what to do. I coughed it out and then had an asthma attack. I wheezed out for her to get my inhaler. She did I was Ok.
    Later that night I stood to use the bathroom, and apparently did the same thing. I passed out. She sat me on the couch and called 911. I wasn’t breathing. They told her to lay me on the floor on my side and clear any obstruction she could. I’m 6 foot and 225 lbs. She’s 4’11 and maybe 110. But she did it. She’s my hero.
    The EMTs arrived and had to shock me twice to get my heart back in normal rithymn. She saved my life. As did they. I spent a few hours in the ER that night, but she saved my life. We need to live together. If I’d been alone the at night I’d have died. Thanks for this advice. I may need it.

    • Jack September 21, 2022, 6:30 AM

      Very close call and I’m glad you survived. Did that event teach you anything about the near certainty of allergic reactions associated with cats?

  • Princess Cutekitten September 20, 2022, 9:21 PM

    Glad you’re still with us, Jeffersonian! And glad Mrs. J. was able to rescue you despite your size difference. I hope she didn’t throw out her back or anything.

    My cousin, who lived alone, choked to death some years ago. If he had tried the maneuver, I was never told.

  • John Venlet September 21, 2022, 6:42 AM

    That little video is indeed a great individual public service.

  • Steve (retired/recovering lawyer) September 21, 2022, 6:48 AM

    As one ages, all one’s muscles/tendons/ligaments tend to become more lax, including the ones that control the entrances to our larynx/pharynx/esophagus. As a result, the likelihood of choking increases. I myself have had a couple scary instances where a piece of food temporarily lodged right there at the junction of those breathing/swallowing tubes, but I was fortunately able to cough them up. Kind of gave myself an improvised Heimlich. Nevertheless, it is frightening and this little piece of self-help first aid was quite timely. Also, I highly recommend avoiding tougher cuts of meat; that was the culprit in my events.

  • Dirk September 21, 2022, 9:51 AM

    The Vic warning signs are clear, few yrs back was in a foodie place, this 20something chick started doing the choking chicken routine. I watched as her friends did nothing, “ they didn’t know what to do”.

    I finally stood, picked her up from her chair and performed the Heimlich twice before her food dislodged. Her boyfriend was gonna kick my ass for assaulting her. She chilled him out.

    As they left the joint she stopped by our table and asked how she could ever repay me, I saved her life.

    said it’s simple take at least a basic first aid class, learn this maneuver and pay it forward.

    My 94 yr old mother in law recently got something lodged. I waited for my father in law to engage, he didn’t, so I did. A softer squeeze but the food dislodged. Point being one never knows where this life saving tool might be required.

    Lastly I was taught back in the 80s, to drop like a rock on your stomach if nobody’s able to assist, in regards to lodged food issues.

    Think it’s solid advice

  • Kerry September 21, 2022, 6:32 PM

    Excellent, I’m forwarding that to my siblings.