Loyola cafeteria employee saves ER doctor's life after performing Heimlich maneuver
An employee at Loyola University Medical Center received kudos for saving a doctor's life.
Emergency room physician Dr. Joan Dimopoulos on Monday presented a bouquet of flowers to Ketzly Angel, a cashier in the hospital's cafeteria.
The doctor was eating a chicken sandwich when she began to choke. Angel sprang into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver.
Angel said she learned the Heimlich as a student at Proviso East High School.
"I've actually never done it before, but from my high school class, health class, I remember what they had told us. So, I always kept it in mind in case of a situation like that," Angel said.
Angel said she knew something was wrong once Dr. Dimopoulos started holding onto her chest.
"I made sure I got out of my seat and started doing something, because I seen everybody else was just looking at her," she said.
"There were a lot of people around, but she's the one who jumped up and helped me right away, and I don't know what would of happened if she didn't," Dr. Dimopoulous said."Her knowledge of knowing what to do and then the courage to really do it for somebody that you don't know, and that she did that for me, and I just want to tell her thank you."
The doctor encourages everyone to learn the Heimlich maneuver, so they, too, can step up to help somebody in a crisis.