A Rensselaer Academy student is alive and well today thanks to the heroics of a Questar III BOCES teaching assistant.
When Joanna Finkle heard student Jahaira “JJ” Navarrete gasping for air after a small hard candy lodged in her throat, she immediately administered the Heimlich maneuver. The candy soon dislodged and JJ said that Ms. Finkle “saved her life, literally.”
While Finkle says she did not have any formal training, she had previously read about what to do during an emergency.
What to do if you’re in a similar situation
The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn’t give the signal, look for these indications:
- Inability to talk
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
- Inability to cough forcefully
- Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
- Loss of consciousness
If choking is occurring, the American Heart Association recommends abdominal thrusts. This technique forces aid upward through the trachea from the diaphragm to dislodge a foreign object and send it flying up into (or even out of) the mouth.
This technique must be performed with caution, especially on young children, because it can hurt someone if done the wrong way. It’s safest when done by someone trained to perform it.
Questar III BOCES is an American Heart Association-authorized Training Center. The Health & Safety Department offers training in both automated external defibrillator (AED) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The HeartSaver AED/CPR training also covers choking and the technique of abdominal thrusts. Classes are offered throughout the year. An AED/ CPR Training and Heartsaver® First Aid course will be held on May 8. Please contact your supervisor for approval prior to registering for a class.
Health & Safety also handed out an educational CD entitled “Learning more about CPR” at Orientation Day in September. It provides instruction in Hands- Only CPR. If you’d like to receive a copy, please contact Health & Safety at 479-6901.
