Dinner Show
May. 18th, 2004 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zyzylySaturday night we went for dinner at Vince's, the local italian restaurant. This place has been around for a while and is a local favorite, since it is one of the few restaurants in town that is not a part of a chain.
After we were seated, two young couples came in and were seated across from us. They were in tuxedos and evening gowns--on their way to the prom. It was funny to watch them acting all grown up. I remember when I was that age, acting so cool in a powder-blue tux and hair down to my shoulders. I shudder.
After a while, as we were eating, I began to notice a commotion developing at their table. At first I thought it was an argument. Then I heard the words, "he's choking!"
I got up immediately and moved toward their table. I thought about what I was supposed to do if someone is choking. Anyone who has ever taken CPR knows about the heimlich maneuver. You reach around behind the victim and jam your fists repeatedly into their midsection, in an attempt to force the obstruction out. I have been training for this my entire career, and have trained countless new nurses in how to do it. When I was a young nurse, I would scan restaurants for potential choking victims, dreaming of the glory of the life-saving hero. It never happened.
As I moved closer, I started thinking about what I would do if the heimlich maneuver didn't work. Multiple scenarios ran through my head. My heart started pounding. This all happened in seconds.
I reached the table just behind one of the waitresses, who immediately reached around the kid and started doing the heimlich maneuver. She gave him a couple of good thrusts, and out popped a piece of steak the size of my thumb. It was just like in the movies! He gagged a couple of times and began to breathe normally. A few minutes later the kids were all laughing about it. I did notice that the boy called his mom.
The waitress came to our table, and I asked her how she was doing. I told her what a great job she did saving that kid's life. She related that she works days in one of the hospitals, and has to take CPR every two years. It was the first time she had ever used it. She didn't even think about it--she just did it. And then went back to waiting tables.
When we paid the bill, I left her a $20 tip and wrote, "You saved a boy's life--you are a hero" on the bill. She deserves a parade.
After we were seated, two young couples came in and were seated across from us. They were in tuxedos and evening gowns--on their way to the prom. It was funny to watch them acting all grown up. I remember when I was that age, acting so cool in a powder-blue tux and hair down to my shoulders. I shudder.
After a while, as we were eating, I began to notice a commotion developing at their table. At first I thought it was an argument. Then I heard the words, "he's choking!"
I got up immediately and moved toward their table. I thought about what I was supposed to do if someone is choking. Anyone who has ever taken CPR knows about the heimlich maneuver. You reach around behind the victim and jam your fists repeatedly into their midsection, in an attempt to force the obstruction out. I have been training for this my entire career, and have trained countless new nurses in how to do it. When I was a young nurse, I would scan restaurants for potential choking victims, dreaming of the glory of the life-saving hero. It never happened.
As I moved closer, I started thinking about what I would do if the heimlich maneuver didn't work. Multiple scenarios ran through my head. My heart started pounding. This all happened in seconds.
I reached the table just behind one of the waitresses, who immediately reached around the kid and started doing the heimlich maneuver. She gave him a couple of good thrusts, and out popped a piece of steak the size of my thumb. It was just like in the movies! He gagged a couple of times and began to breathe normally. A few minutes later the kids were all laughing about it. I did notice that the boy called his mom.
The waitress came to our table, and I asked her how she was doing. I told her what a great job she did saving that kid's life. She related that she works days in one of the hospitals, and has to take CPR every two years. It was the first time she had ever used it. She didn't even think about it--she just did it. And then went back to waiting tables.
When we paid the bill, I left her a $20 tip and wrote, "You saved a boy's life--you are a hero" on the bill. She deserves a parade.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 09:35 am (UTC)Question though: what exactly do you do if the heimlich doesn't work in such a situation? Some sort of DIY tracheotomy?
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 09:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 09:43 am (UTC)I'm such a dreamer
Date: 2004-05-18 09:13 pm (UTC)Re: I'm such a dreamer
Date: 2004-05-18 09:15 pm (UTC)The Bunay Twirl
Date: 2004-05-18 09:51 am (UTC)But what it says to me is I really need to get working on some kind of maneuver I can put my name on.
One that actually does something useful, I mean. I have come up with a few interesting maneuvers that nobody will ever use, but what I want is a good one, like Heimlich.
Since, of course, I can't afford to buy my name onto something, like a library or a hospital wing.
And nobody is going to name a street or a park after me based on personal merit. For that you have to be some kind of hero, and maybe know CPR and stuff.
Most of the maneuvers I've come up with so far just make you kind of dizzy.
The wing of Bunay
Date: 2004-05-18 11:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 10:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 10:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 05:03 pm (UTC)My CPR expired...I really need to take another class.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-18 09:00 pm (UTC)indeed there are heros everywhere and they
are at moments us and it is really(whatever
the accuser says, as satan is called) true
that it is good to be alive and human .
+Seraphim.
no subject