North Kansas City Hospital Security Officer Desiree Smith and Room Service Associate Tina Heller quickly went from strangers to lifelong friends when Desiree saved Tina’s life.
At NKCH, the evening of January 16, 2021, started as uneventful. Tina sat down to enjoy a hamburger after a busy afternoon delivering patient meals. Desiree had started her shift just a few hours before and went to the hospital’s Riverbend Grille for dinner.
Training Saved a Life
As Desiree paid for her food, she saw Tina stand up suddenly. “She had a look that she was in trouble,” Desiree remembered. She rushed to Tina and asked if she could breathe. Tina shook her head no. Desiree started the Heimlich maneuver, which uses sudden upward pressure on the upper abdomen to force an object to dislodge from the windpipe. It’s a technique Desiree learned when she worked security at Worlds of Fun. Thanks to Desiree’s quick action, the bite of hamburger loosened, allowing Tina to breathe and swallow.
When Tina saw the petite Desiree approaching, she wondered how she could help. “But, she did her job and knew what she was doing,” Tina smiled. “I really thought I was going to die, and she saved my life.”
The two women met later that evening when Desiree returned to check on her new friend. Tina introduced Desiree to her coworkers as the new friend who saved her life. The humble Desiree said, “It’s not about me; it’s about you.” Tina responded, “If it wasn’t for you, there would be no me.”
How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver
The Heimlich Maneuver, now referred to as abdominal thrusts, is credited with saving the lives of 50,000 potential victims over the years.
A choking victim who can't speak or breathe may need immediate help. Follow these steps.
- Wrap your arms around the victim's waist from behind.
- Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victim's upper abdomen, below the ribcage and above the navel.
- Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into the upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Do not squeeze the ribcage; confine the force of the thrust to your hands.
- Repeat until the object dislodges.
