You can’t predict when a life-or-death moment might occur. And if you’re an observer to such an event, how will you respond?
For
Luanne Bieberle, R.T.(R)(MR)(ARRT), CRT, an MRI Technologist at the
Watson Clinic Highlands location, the moment occurred while in the break room with some of her fellow team members.
“I was seated next to two other women at the table when the one girl who was eating started choking,” Luanne recalled. `
“Are you ok? Can you breathe?” she asked her co-worker, who empathetically shook her head.
That’s when instincts took over, and her CPR training came into play. Without wasting a beat, she began performing the Heimlich maneuver on her colleague. “I did it several times,” Luanne said. The urgency was intensifying moment by moment until – finally – her co-worker dislodged the piece of meat that was blocking her airway. Or so Luanne thought until the girl motioned that she was still choking.
Desperate, Luanne readied her plan B in case the Heimlich maneuver proved ineffective. “I asked another co-worker to turn the back of a chair towards us,” she said. “Because if you’re ever alone and start to choke, you should thrust your lower abdomen against the back of a chair.”
Someone entered the break room to see the source of the obvious commotion, and Luanne asked them to call for more help. She then tried the Heimlich one last time. It worked. The final piece of meat flew out and the co-worker, clearly traumatized and highly emotional, immediately thanked Luanne for saving her life.
Inspired by Luanne’s quick thinking and expert response, Watson Clinic presented her with a Hero Award earlier this month, accompanied by a heartfelt letter from Chief Executive Officer Jason Hirsbrunner.
“We are profoundly thankful for your selfless dedication and courage,” the letter read in part. “Your actions have shown our highest standards for care, and we are extremely proud to have you as a valued member of the Watson Clinic team.”
"I feel that entire situation that occurred was a God thing,” Luanne reflected. “God put us both in that break room that day for a reason. He helped both of us!”
Luanne’s actions not only speak to the power of compassion, but also to the importance of learning proper CPR techniques. When a moment of crisis arose, her life-saving response was informed by the skills she had learned from her training.
All of us at Watson Clinic thank Luanne for her remarkable efforts!
Pictured: Luanne (center) proudly displays her letter of recognition alongside her husband and (from left to right)
Radiology specialist
Dr. Jason W. Maloney, Chief Human Resources Officer Elliott Willis, and Chief Executive Officer Jason Hirsbrunner.