Posted: 1/5/2004 8:18:17 PM EDT
| I work in an autoparts store, and we have rotations, every 3rd Saturday, one of the salesmen will stay and answer phone calls for the shops that are still open. I happen to be driving through town, and I notice a tow truck with one of my delivery trucks on the back of it. Being my day off I wanted to know what happend to the stupid POS truck, so I call to find out WTF happend. I call, the phone rings and rings and rings, and the retail side of the store answered the phone. Apparently Mike (our salesmen) was choking on a piece of sweet and sour pork at the time that I called and all hell had broken loose. I am WAY suprized to find out that nobody there even knew how to do the heimlic (sp). I guess after he turned blue somebody FINALLY called 911 and he was carted off to the hospital. Glad to hear that he's gonna be fine, but he's gonna need a few days/week off cause all of the blood vessels in his face/neck had broken from him convulsing trying to breathe. Sounded like a crazy day, I'm just pissed that nobody knew WTF to do. |
| It would seem to not be uncommon. I was involved in a similar incident the month after I joined this site. I don't think I posted about it, as it was very traumatic to me in a way that is hard to explain. An older lady (coworker), while a group of six of us were walking across a parking lot on our way to lunch, stopped and grabbed at her throat. I could see her neck and chest moving as though she couldn't breath. There was no logical reason for her to be choking, but I finally figured out that was the problem. I asked her forcefully if she was choking and she looked at me with a horrified/terrified expression and VERY "wild eyes" and managed to nod her head up and down. Without thinking, I grabbed her arm, spun her around and "assumed the position." I made the thrusts--forcefully--four times, and NOTHING. Finally, I realized she had to be near to passing out, so I made an extra effort to squeeze her with extra force, and it worked. Two HUGE vitamin pills came out, along with a long string of drool. We were both shaking and quite traumatized by the event. Nearly three years later, it still bothers me to think about it, and it absolutely consumed my thoughts for weeks afterward, worrying about what would have happened had I not been successful. She had a hard eyeglass case in her coat pocket that broke three of her ribs, and I had an ink pen in my shirt pocket that cracked one of mine. We were both sore for months afterward, but we still work together. The other guys all admitted they had no clue what to do. I'd suggest encouraging everyone you know to learn the technique, as YOU may be the one choking, and it's hard to help yourself (though it can be done on the back of a chair--maybe). |
| It got to a point that the paramedics on scene we're going to "cut him open" whatever that means, maybe insert an air tube or something? The hospital is only 5-10 minutes away so I can see why they might not have done that but damn...I guess I'm still in shock that everyone pretty much just stood their with their thumbs up their asses. The guy that was there that actually did try and help tried to get the guy to drink water but it all just welled up and spilled allover. I've worked at this place for 8 months and so far we've had one driver injured in an accident when he totalled a delivery truck, another guy trip over a pallet and ended up busting himself through the wall, and one guy ended up cutting two of his fingers so badly it took 5 hours worth of surgery to hook all the tendons back up. Pretty exciting selling auto parts :) |
| I've heard of the back of the chair thing, supposedly it works but we dont have any chairs! LOL they're all stools...uncomfortable too...anyways I dunno I think the company should take up some sort of a safety meeting sometime that covers alittle bit of everything. |
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Not only encouraging people to learn the technique, but get officially trained by the Red Cross. If it goes wrong, that cert card is a trump card for you. In court, your lawyer will pull the card out and show that: 1) You are current on your CPR/FirstAid 2) You did it exactly as the class teaches you. There is nothing that says you are off the hook for sure, but you WILL be [red]on the hook[/red] if you lose a patient and they find out you did it the wrong way and accidentally contributed to the patient's death. DON'T let it happen to you! [i]Call the Red Cross tomorrow and get in a class.[/i] And the feelings you went through afterward are very normal. I hope that everybody reading this understands the value of thinking about what you can and will do BEFORE you face the situation. It reduces how traumatizing it is to you as a rescuer. Unlike gun control, if this thread, and as a consequence, your training, only saves one life, it is worth it. Quoted: It would seem to not be uncommon. I was involved in a similar incident the month after I joined this site. I don't think I posted about it, as it was very traumatic to me in a way that is hard to explain. An older lady (coworker), while a group of six of us were walking across a parking lot on our way to lunch, stopped and grabbed at her throat. I could see her neck and chest moving as though she couldn't breath. There was no logical reason for her to be choking, but I finally figured out that was the problem. I asked her forcefully if she was choking and she looked at me with a horrified/terrified expression and VERY "wild eyes" and managed to nod her head up and down. Without thinking, I grabbed her arm, spun her around and "assumed the position." I made the thrusts--forcefully--four times, and NOTHING. Finally, I realized she had to be near to passing out, so I made an extra effort to squeeze her with extra force, and it worked. Two HUGE vitamin pills came out, along with a long string of drool. We were both shaking and quite traumatized by the event. Nearly three years later, it still bothers me to think about it, and it absolutely consumed my thoughts for weeks afterward, worrying about what would have happened had I not been successful. She had a hard eyeglass case in her coat pocket that broke three of her ribs, and I had an ink pen in my shirt pocket that cracked one of mine. We were both sore for months afterward, but we still work together. The other guys all admitted they had no clue what to do. I'd suggest encouraging everyone you know to learn the technique, as YOU may be the one choking, and it's hard to help yourself (though it can be done on the back of a chair--maybe). |
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I've Hiemliched (sp/is it even a word?) 2 people in my life. One was my girlfriend. She was pissed because I waited to make sure she couldn't talk and I couldn't hear breath working by. It never entered my mind until just now, she's lucky I didn't know then what I know now. (Just kidding, maybe.) |
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Auto parts store, huh? The other day I drove past one of the car parts stores here in town, and the lot was filled with a couple of ambulances and a cop car or two. A-ha!, I say to myself, self, better get those floormats some other day, looks like yet another robbery. Here's the link to the news article: [url]http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2003/12/20/1071981532.20005.2910.5232.html[/url] [i] A father suffered a gunshot wound in the parking lot of Auto Zone after his young son accidentally stepped on a gun, laying on the floor board, that went off Saturday morning. The little boy was getting out of the truck between 11-11:30 a.m. when he accidentally stepped on the shotgun, which went off shooting his father, Kendrick Biggs, in the leg, according to Marshall Police Department lieutenant Lewis. Lewis said the gunshot wound was in the lower left leg by the ankle. Lewis said he doesn't know if it was the oldest son or the youngest one who accidentally stepped on the gun, but it was the oldest son who ran inside the store to alert his grandfather, who was making a purchase, about the accident. [/i] I am not entirely sure if this would be a good idea [i]here[/i], but in Germany, part of the process of getting a driver's license is a mandatory First Aid course. Pro: You're assuming responsibilty for your own actions. Be prepared to help yourself and others. Con: I've seen a representive sample of the population, and I'd rather blow my own brains out before relying on help from the majority. |
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Con: I've seen a representive sample of the population, and I'd rather blow my own brains out before relying on help from the majority. So true...so true...I don't think that they could pass a law that affected DRIVERS licenses....They can f#@k with gun laws all they want,but noooooooo since everyone owns a car they wont touch people who drive. In my opinion there are more little rich kids and dumbasses out there on the road causing accidents than there are unsafe gun owners. |
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thebeekeeper1: Good for you. I took the Red Cross class for the Heimlich Maneuver, and they said if a person is choking, they will not be able to speak, so the question to ask is "are you choking?" if the nod of the head is affirmative, then do the Heimlich Maneuver. And if you're choking; and you can't talk yourself, you then grab your throat and indicate to someone you're choking. Blue84S10: I can't agree with you more. I think ALL 1st time drivers should be required to take a driver's training course just to learn the laws. The BS test given to all driver licenses applicants is pretty much a farce. |
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Blue84S10: I can't agree with you more. I think ALL 1st time drivers should be required to take a driver's training course just to learn the laws. The BS test given to all driver licenses applicants is pretty much a farce. Chit I was getting my motorcycle permit at the DMV once and this gardener looking mexican guy wearing a hat with a big potleaf on it was asking me for the answers to the test. I was the one that got yelled at by the lady giving the tests because I told him no and moved. Same day there was also some Asian lady there getting her license or permit? And she had a TRANSLATOR!!!! HOW THE HELL IS SHE SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE SHE IS GOING OR SPEED LIMIT SIGNS OR ANYTHING???? HER WHOLE TEST WAS IN CHINESE JAPANESE WHATEVER IT WAS! SQUIGGLES!!!!!!! People out there are not prepared for even the slightest accidents in life. I cannot tell you how many people I have helped in car accidents, slip and falls, stuff that happens in plain view public. It's crazy to think people are actually suprized I have a small first aid kit in my trunk. |
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Gee that's too bad about TX. Here in CA we have a Good Samaritan Shield Law. If you have been trained but not current and you do your best you don't get sued. Remind me not to choke in TX since it looks like they are too ???? of lawsuits to try to help. (I'm talking Heimlich, CPR and similar not emergency tracheotomies. those aren't taught and if you get slicing away you will be in trouble. Use something to hold it open) |
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Quoted: Gee that's too bad about TX. Here in CA we have a Good Samaritan Shield Law. If you have been trained but not current and you do your best you don't get sued. Remind me not to choke in TX since it looks like they are too ???? of lawsuits to try to help. (I'm talking Heimlich, CPR and similar not emergency tracheotomies. those aren't taught and if you get slicing away you will be in trouble. Use something to hold it open) |
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I’m embarrassed to admit that I almost bought the farm a few years ago in a similar manner. I was sitting alone in my car greedily gulping down a sandwich when a bit of it sealed off my airway. I went from a ho-hum day of shopping and just bumming around to realizing I was in genuine danger of dying within a few seconds!! I was able to apply the Heimlich to myself by making a fist with one hand and shoving it into my lower chest with the other one while also punching both hands by leaning into the floor mounted gearshift handle. I [b]seriously[/b] considered drawing my Benchmade and opening my throat, but I knew I just didn’t have the time!! A few personal observations: Panic is your greatest enemy! It’s not choking in the traditional sense – you can’t make a sound!! In my case, at least, the food blocked my airway as I started to inhale. Quite naturally, when air is stopped, the body tries harder to inhale, which holds the blockage and continues the problem. It seems to me that if you realize this is happening to you and you can’t stop it, you should try to position your body so that when you pass out, the food will fall away from your airway and maybe let you breath again (I suspect this is what happened to GWB a couple of years ago when he had the problem with the pretzels). Nowadays, whenever I eat in my car I release my seatbelt first so it won’t be in my way if something like this happens again. And I definitely don’t eat while driving down the road!! |
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I had this happen several years ago... I was sitting in the lunchroom with a bunch of guys on break... The guy sitting next to me stands up and starts flailing his arms around, and trying to speak... He motions to his back, so I swatted him hard on the back. Obviously this did nothing, so I "assumed the position" and tried to force out whatever he was choking on. Tried 2-3 times with no success. I hollered for someone to please help, as I was getting worried I couldn't do anything. Another guy (trained in first-aid)jumped in and gave him a hell of a shot, and out comes a green pea at about 100mph... The guy dropped to his hands & knees coughing and gasping for air. I thought he was in big trouble up 'till that point. He's a lucky SOB. He came to me the next day, and with tears in his eyes, thanked me for saving his life...He was still shook up about it, and swore he thought he was a goner...I was speechless, and suggested he give the credit to the guy that actually was able to get him breathing again... Goes to show this stupid shit can happen without warning, and it requires immediate and firm decisive action... I was caught totally off-guard, and felt nearly as helpless as the victim... |
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I was in a Burger King a few years back, and this old guy is in there, just standing by the napkins, making the worst noise like a pig getting boned by a horse. It's awful. Everyone's getting grossed out, and the staff isn't doing anything about it. Finally, he walks over to me (waiting for my food) and asks me if I can help him. So I asked what's wrong, and he tells me he's Choking. I came about 1/2 a millisecond from laughing. Then I calmly told him he was not choking, and he should probably think about drinking some water or something to see if that helps. he stumbles away and keeps making said noise. Finally the paramedics arrive. They go through their minstrations with the guy, and one of them comes over a few minutes later and asks me what I told the guy. I was like, wtf? Apparently he told the paras that I refused to help him, and was going to watch him die. Paramedice hears what I told him, laughs, says thanks and tells me that they think this guy is a chronic "choker" in fast food joints....to get $. [:(] Yes I know the heimlich. |
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The hardest thing to do is get your wits about you when you witness something like that. I can speak from experience. I work in a limestone mill. A coworker of mine runs the belt saw, which saws huge millblocks into vertical standing slabs (kinda like a loaf of bread sliced up). Anyway, he went in between an unsawed limestone block and one he had just sawed. Well, the heavy roughback (it would be like the "heel" on a loaf of bread) leaned over and crushed him between it and the unsawed block. The roughback weighed approximately 1200# and caught him in the shoulder and pinned him, with the roughback leaning about 45°. No one noticed the accident initially. Suddenly the overhead crane operater started hitting his buzzer and was pointing down on the other side of the beltsaw. A few of us ran down there to investigate and found the guy. All I could see was his crushed hard hat sticking up from between the roughback and block. He was limp, with the roughback holding him in a crouched position. To be quite honest, I wanted to take off running. I felt helpless and was sure he was dead. We yelled for help and got enough men together to tilt the roughback up into a vertical position. Immediately the guy collapsed into the muck, with his head thudding on a 4X6 wooden skid. Before someone arrived to pull him from under the roughback (we were all still holding it up off him), he came to and crawled out. He ended up with a broken collar bone and recovered. He later said that he had held his breath as long as he could waiting for help to arrive, then felt his collar bone break as the weight crushed him little by little. He eventually passed out from lack of oxygen. If the crane operator hadn't seen him from his elevated postion above the beltsaw, my coworker would have died from suffication in a matter of a few more seconds... |
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Here it is from the Health and Safety Code - 1799.100. In order to encourage local agencies and other organizations to train people in emergency medical services, no local agency, entity of state or local government, or other public or private organization which sponsors, authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises the training of people, or certifies those people, excluding physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, and licensed vocational nurses, as defined, in emergency medical services, shall be liable for any civil damages alleged to result from those training programs. 1799.102. No person who in good faith, and not for compensation, renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency shall be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission. The scene of an emergency shall not include emergency departments and other places where medical care is usually offered. 1799.104. (a) No physician or nurse, who in good faith gives emergency instructions to an EMT-II or mobile intensive care paramedic at the scene of an emergency, shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of issuing the instructions. (b) No EMT-II or mobile intensive care paramedic rendering care within the scope of his duties who, in good faith and in a nonnegligent manner, follows the instructions of a physician or nurse shall be liable for any civil damages as a result of following such instructions. No doubt CA has a bunch of screwed up laws, it's got a few good ones too. This and the Richardson Act (prima facie deadly force in the home) are better than most. I don't know about other states but we have this "Find California Code" http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html which has a seaarch capability in the 29 Codes, Constitution and Statutes. Can be a bear to search some times but with a little practice and luck you can find anything. |
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The [b]American Red Cross[/b] teaches the Heimlich Maneuver correctly for children and adults. However, their instructions for infants under the age of one call for five back slaps and two-finger chest thrusts on the breastbone. [b]Those instructions, says Dr. Henry Heimlich, are "absolutely wrong."[/b] The Heimlich Maneuver is effective because pressing the diaphragm upward provides an even compression of the lungs, which causes a flow of air. That air provides energy necessary to push a choking object out through the mouth. Incorrect Instructions for Aiding Choking Infants Dangerous, But Still Used [url]http://www.heimlichinstitute.org/infants.html[/url] Just FYI -FWIW |
| Mike came in today, happy as a clam to be alive. Apparently when he got to the hospital the food had worked its way down the tube almost to his stomach. They put him out and put some scope down there, and ended up just pushing the chunk of pork into his stomach. He had pictures and everything it was hilarious. Even went back to the same place and got the same food he choked on for lunch. |