Patty Ris, 87, was in great peril when she began to choke on a piece of hamburger at the Hyde Park senior living facility. Fortunately, a 96-year-old man stepped out of the crowd and saved her in front of the 125 diners. She then learned that she was in good hands: it was none other than Dr. Henry Heimlich himself.
Maître’d Perry Gaines was heading over the table when he spotted Heimlich reach for the woman. He stepped aside for the creator of the maneuver. It turns out that Heimlich swims and exercises regularly.
The really shocking fact however is that Heimlich has actually only used his technique once before since he invented it in the 1970s.
bam bam,
I agree that even the nice nursing homes can have a rather sad and depressing element to them. And, absolutely, it is shameful for family to abandon their elderly parents in nursing homes. My grandpa was in a nice nursing home for the 24/7 care he needed, but it wasn’t anything like this:
http://www.episcopalretirement.com/deupree-house/photo-gallery
Dr. Heimlich’s residence seems to be a senior living center with tiered care, including separate apartments for people who can live independently. I would liken it to contemporary college dorms–apartment-like suites, common room, rec center with pool, library, and dining hall.
The Guardian has additional information: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/27/dr-heimlich-performs-heimlich-manoeuvre-for-first-time-aged-96
Dr. Heimlich has lived at Duepree for 6 years and was widowed 3 years ago, so, he and his wife chose to live there. Considering he attends the symphony and ballet, it sounds like he still comes and goes as he pleases. Perhaps living at Duepree allows him to feel and be more independent than he would living with one of his adult children or grandchildren (at Duepree he probably has his own apartment; if he lived with one of his sons, he’d have his own bedroom).
It’s a sad commentary on our society and culture, which venerates the young, at the expense of the elderly, that a 96 year old individual, who is, purportedly, healthy enough to swim and exercise regularly, not to mention capable enough to perform his own maneuver to save another’s life, is relegated, in the twilight of his years, to being warehoused in a nursing home. Please, spare me the comments about Uncle So and So loving his nursing home. Not interested. I’ve, personally, been in the best and the worst of them, and even the very best of these facilities, chuck full of amenities, are sad, depressing institutions, where few, if any, relatives ever bother to visit their elderly loved ones. Granted, for those requiring assistance, 24/7, these facilities perform a necessary function and purpose–for someone like Dr. Heimlich, however, with the ability to swim, exercise and save a life–using a somewhat strenuous action–such a place, for his final stop, is heartbreaking. I can’t help but wonder–of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, is there no one–no one–capable and/or willing to allow this individual, who is seemingly healthy, to live with him? As the old expression goes, a mother can, somehow, manage take care of 12 children, but 12 children can’t, somehow, manage to take care of 1 mother.
Several have been arrested mistakenly trying to apply the “Hindlick” maneuver to distressed individuals.
No, this isn’t the first time that Dr. Heimlich employed his own maneuver since the 1970s. According to one report, he last applied his treatment in year 2000. Please make that update.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2825971.stm
Otherwise, a good article with some pleasant news and a much needed break from the relentless Islamification articles.
Is the tongue involved?
Can someone explain how to do this maneuver. Does one have to be named Heimlick? With an “h” or a “k” at the end?
Good on him. Congrats!!!!