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Community Corner

Young Nursing Student Aids Choking Victim

A First Street Cafe patron demonstrates why everyone should know life-saving skills.

Chelsea Bunch, a 20-year old nursing student from Benicia, happened to be in the right place at the right time on Friday. She was enjoying coffee with a friend at , when a woman at the next table began to choke.

The woman, who's identity is still unknown, was with her husband who tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her as she sat in her chair. Within seconds, it was obvious it was not working so he asked if anybody knew the maneuver.

Bunch intinctively shouted "I'll do it." She rushed to the womans side, instructed her to stand up and performed the abdominal thrust on her.

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Once the victim gave her the thumbs up that she was okay, Bunch returned to her table. The whole incident was over within 45 seconds. "They offered me a free dessert," said Bunch. "...but my heart was racing and I just wanted to get out of there."

Employees of the cafe were stunned and appreciative that Bunch jumped into action. "It was ironic and awsome that someone was here," said Amanda Canning of First Street Cafe. "We were just talking about having a CPR class for employees."

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Bunch has completed three quarters of the Nursing program at Pacific Union College. She recently completed s CPR class where she learned the abdominal thrust. Bunch suggests that everyone take a class, saying "People should know what to do."

The American Red Cross recommends that choking victims be treated with five back slaps as a first course of action, followed by five abdominal thrusts, although the American Heart Association still says to start with thrusts. Most medical professionals no longer use the term Heimlich, but the maneuver remains the same.

Classes in CPR are available through the Benicia Citizens Corps Council sponsored by the Benicia Fire Department in association with the program (BERT). The next class is scheduled for October 1 at the new Benicia Community Center. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is required.

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