Latest news with #Heimlich
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rosie O'Donnell saves choking woman at Dublin restaurant
American comedian and actress Rosie O'Donnell has shared how she sprang into action to assist "a 90-year-old woman" who started choking during dinner in Dublin. The 63-year-old, who moved to Ireland earlier this year with her 12-year-old child, had just wrapped up a set at the International Comedy Club, where she was honing her act for her upcoming 3Olympia Theatre show and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. After the show, she headed to a nearby eatery for dinner with her cousin Mary and her friend Kiki. Calling herself a "hyper-vigilant person", she recounted the incident to her TikTok followers, explaining how she noticed an elderly woman in distress. "I see a 90-year-old woman choking," O'Donnell told her followers. "She's with two women who are in their 50s, I'd guess. And I jump into action like I'm an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) – which I'm not, I'm a stand-up comedian and actress. "So I'm eating my tuna tartare and I go, 'That woman is choking, that woman is choking!' I get up, nearly knock over the table, and run over with Kiki and my cousin Mary. "We run over to the woman and stand her up. We put Kiki behind her, and I put her fist in the right place. She starts to give her the Heimlich, which she hadn't done before. "I'm holding her hands and talking to her, saying, 'It's okay, it's okay. Can you breathe?' I put my hand near her, and she could not breathe at all. "She started getting caught red in the face. My heart is going and I'm one of those people who is great in a crisis, but after the crisis I'm a mess." The woman's daughters had become upset with the stress of the dramatic incident but were quickly relieved when O'Donnell began to instruct her friend Kiki on how to carry out the Heimlich manoeuvre. "My cousin Mary put a napkin in front of her and told her to get it out," she added. "I pushed Kiki's hand, and she got it, and something came out, a big wad of stuff. "It was unbelievable to me. I was thinking, 'Am I going to have to do a tracheotomy?' Because I took a course and they told you what to do if it wasn't working and you were in a dire situation – and we were in a dire situation. "In panic mode, I go into thinking I'm Superman or something, and I'm not. I'm not an EMT. But when I see something like that, I spring into action." O'Donnell shared that the woman, named Angela, went back to finishing her meal and said the events that unfolded were "unbelievable". "We were all kind of in tears, and I was doing my best to stay composed," she said. "I say, 'God bless you and God bless all of us that we were able to help each other'. So I go back to my table and I can't eat." She continued: "I can't eat, I'm teary. I look over and there's Angela finishing her meal! God love her, it was unbelievable."
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Rosie O'Donnell saves choking woman (90) at Dublin restaurant: ‘I'm good in a crisis but I'm a mess afterwards'
The 63-year-old moved to Ireland earlier this year to avoid living under the presidency of US President Donald Trump, with the pair having been locked in a long-running public feud. Taking to TikTok on Thursday, the TV star had to tap into some life-saving skills after sitting down with her cousin Mary and her friend Kiki for a meal at the swanky five-star Dylan Hotel in south Dublin. Fresh from having performed at the International Comedy Club on Wednesday night, Rosie was in for a shock when she found herself scanning the room of the hotel restaurant. Describing herself as a 'hyper-vigilant person', she laid eyes on a elderly woman who had become distressed while sitting down for a meal with her daughters. "I see a 90-year-old woman choking,' O'Donnell told her followers. 'She's with two women who are in their fifties I'd guess. And I jump into action like I'm an EMT – which I'm not, I'm a stand-up comedian and actress. 'So I'm eating my tuna tartare and I go, 'that woman is choking, that woman is choking!' I get up, nearly knock over the table and run over with Kiki and my cousin Mary. "We run over to the woman and stand her up. We put Kiki behind her and I put her fist in the right place. She starts to give her the Heimlich which she hadn't done before. "I'm holding her hands and talking to her saying 'it's okay, it's okay. Can you breathe?' I put my hand near her and she could not breathe at all. "She started getting caught red in the face. My heart is going and I'm one of those people who is great in a crisis but after the crisis I'm a mess." The woman's daughters had become upset with the stress of the dramatic incident but were quickly relieved when Rosie began to coach her friend Kiki on how to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. 'My cousin Mary put a napkin in front of her and told her to get it out,' she continued. 'I pushed Kiki's hand and she got it and something came out, a big wad of stuff. "It was unbelievable to me. I was thinking am I going to have to do a tracheotomy because I took a course and they told you what to do if it wasn't working and you were in a dire situation – and we were in a dire situation. "In panic mode, I go into thinking I'm Superman or something and I'm not. I'm not an EMT. But when I see something like that I spring into action." The 90-year-old woman then revealed her name to be Angela and was incredibly thankful that the comedian and her pals were on hand to help. And while an emotional Rosie then struggled to finish her meal when she finally got back to her table, she was thrilled to see the 'unbelievable' Angela polishing off her own food despite having come under such distress moments before. The former talk show host has been a regular sight around the Irish capital since making the move across the Atlantic, including dropping in on The Late Late Show. In May, she revealed that her appearance on the RTÉ programme led to a Dublin woman in a bathrobe taking her into her home after she got lost in the city. Rosie was on her way to a podcast interview about her childhood trauma after the tragic loss of her mum when a taxi driver dropped her at the wrong address. When she knocked on the door, a lady in a bathrobe, just out of the shower, answered it. 'She said, 'You look familiar, where do I know you from?'' Rosie reveals. ''I'm an American actress.' 'You were on The Late Late Show, you've got an autistic child.' I said, 'Yes I was.' 'What's your name?' 'Rosie.' 'I'm Jennifer, come on in.'' Jennifer connected Rosie to her wi-fi and helped her contact radio presenter and podcaster Venetia Quick of The Grief Pod. Before leaving, Rosie advised Jennifer: "'Listen, I just want you to know you shouldn't do this again [let a stranger into her home]. In New York nobody would ever do this. 'She laughed, 'You know Rosie, I wouldn't open the door unless you were on The Late Late Show.' The former Rosie O'Donnell Show star has deep connections to Ireland with family roots in Donegal, Tyrone, and Belfast.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Rosie O'Donnell saved choking pensioner (90) at Dublin restaurant
The comedian sprung to action to help a 90-year-old who was choking at a restaurant. The 63-year-old moved to Ireland earlier this year to avoid living under the presidency of US President Donald Trump, with the pair having been locked in a long-running public feud. Taking to TikTok on Thursday, the TV star had to tap into some life-saving skills after sitting down with her cousin Mary and her friend Kiki for a meal at the swanky five-star Dylan Hotel in south Dublin. Fresh from having performed at the International Comedy Club on Wednesday night, Rosie was in for a shock when she found herself scanning the room of the hotel restaurant. Describing herself as a 'hyper-vigilant person', she laid eyes on a elderly woman who had become distressed while sitting down for a meal with her daughters. Rosie O'Donnell. Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th "I see a 90-year-old woman choking,' O'Donnell told her followers. 'She's with two women who are in their fifties I'd guess. And I jump into action like I'm an EMT – which I'm not, I'm a stand-up comedian and actress. 'So I'm eating my tuna tartare and I go, 'that woman is choking, that woman is choking!' I get up, nearly knock over the table and run over with Kiki and my cousin Mary. "We run over to the woman and stand her up. We put Kiki behind her and I put her fist in the right place. She starts to give her the Heimlich which she hadn't done before. "I'm holding her hands and talking to her saying 'it's okay, it's okay. Can you breathe?' I put my hand near her and she could not breathe at all. "She started getting caught red in the face. My heart is going and I'm one of those people who is great in a crisis but after the crisis I'm a mess." The woman's daughters had become upset with the stress of the dramatic incident but were quickly relieved when Rosie began to coach her friend Kiki on how to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. Rosie O'Donnell on TikTok. 'My cousin Mary put a napkin in front of her and told her to get it out,' she continued. 'I pushed Kiki's hand and she got it and something came out, a big wad of stuff. "It was unbelievable to me. I was thinking am I going to have to do a tracheotomy because I took a course and they told you what to do if it wasn't working and you were in a dire situation – and we were in a dire situation. "In panic mode, I go into thinking I'm Superman or something and I'm not. I'm not an EMT. But when I see something like that I spring into action." The 90-year-old woman then revealed her name to be Angela and was incredibly thankful that the comedian and her pals were on hand to help. And while an emotional Rosie then struggled to finish her meal when she finally got back to her table, she was thrilled to see the 'unbelievable' Angela polishing off her own food despite having come under such distress moments before. The former talk show host has been a regular sight around the Irish capital since making the move across the Atlantic, including dropping in on The Late Late Show. In May, she revealed that her appearance on the RTÉ programme led to a Dublin woman in a bathrobe taking her into her home after she got lost in the city. Read more Rosie was on her way to a podcast interview about her childhood trauma after the tragic loss of her mum when a taxi driver dropped her at the wrong address. When she knocked on the door, a lady in a bathrobe, just out of the shower, answered it. 'She said, 'You look familiar, where do I know you from?'' Rosie reveals. ''I'm an American actress.' 'You were on The Late Late Show, you've got an autistic child.' I said, 'Yes I was.' 'What's your name?' 'Rosie.' 'I'm Jennifer, come on in.'' Jennifer connected Rosie to her wi-fi and helped her contact radio presenter and podcaster Venetia Quick of The Grief Pod. Before leaving, Rosie advised Jennifer: "'Listen, I just want you to know you shouldn't do this again [let a stranger into her home]. In New York nobody would ever do this. 'She laughed, 'You know Rosie, I wouldn't open the door unless you were on The Late Late Show.' The former Rosie O'Donnell Show star has deep connections to Ireland with family roots in Donegal, Tyrone, and Belfast.
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Alarm sounded over anti-choking devices installed in Perth
The son of the doctor credited with the development of the Heimlich manoeuvre says there are risks from using anti-choking devices to save people's lives. Brian Bwoga, of Beldon, has been asking councils across Perth to install LifeVac anti-choking devices after his 22-month-old son Zaza died after choking on a grape in 2024. The Town of Bassendean is the latest council to consider his request. The cities of Joondalup and Vincent agreed earlier this year to install the devices. LifeVac is a self-powered portable suction device developed for clearing the upper airway when standard first aid protocols fail to relieve a choking incident. But Philip Heimlich says his father Dr Henry Heimlich, who died in 2016, said the drawbacks of such devices were 'obvious', including that they had to be nearby and it would be 'virtually impossible' for victims to use it on themselves. While he admired the councils' dedication to saving lives, Mr Heimlich said in an email to the Joondalup and Bassendean mayors that studies had shown the dangers of anti-choking devices. The contents of the Lifevac kit. Credit: Supplied The Royal Life Saving Society WA Inc has said there was limited evidence of efficacy of the anti-choking devices and was concerned they could cause additional harm if not used appropriately or delayed the use of established procedures. The US Food and Drug Administration choking rescue protocols do not include anti-choking devices as they have not been FDA-approved or cleared. 'Consumers should be aware that using anti-choking devices first could delay action, as consumers usually have to take them out of packaging, assemble them, and follow device instructions, which may delay the use of established rescue protocols,' its website says. Mr Heimlich said people could suffer brain damage or death in four minutes if the choking object was not dislodged. 'Since my father invented the Heimlich manoeuvre in 1974, untold numbers of choking victims have been saved by his procedure around the world,' he said. 'Each week, there are dozens of news reports on lives saved by his method, and it's extremely rare that the Heimlich manoeuvre is not effective.' A Heimlich manoeuvre involves a person standing behind a person and squeezing their diaphragm. The American Red Cross and UK National Health Service recommend abdominal thrusts only if coughing and slaps to the back do not remove the obstruction. They are not recommended on children younger than one year old. Mr Bwoga told the Town of Bassendean's June 24 meeting about 10 WA councils had agreed to install the devices and they cost less than $200. 'I'm not here to make somebody vote for something they don't wish to vote for but I'm just here as a dad who's trying to make sense out of this tragedy,' he said. 'I don't want to hear another parent go through the same thing that I went through.' The council voted in support of mayor Kath Hamilton's proposal that the town investigate the costs, benefits and risks of installing LifeVac devices at town facilities where automated external defibrillators are installed and report back by August. Town CEO Cameron Woods said it was always prudent to do some research but 'cost is not an issue when we're talking about saving young lives'.
New York Post
07-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
New bill would mandate 'anti-choking' devices in NYC schools
Every school in NYC would be required to have 'airway clearance devices' to help prevent choking deaths under a City Council bill gaining bipartisan steam. The legislation sponsored by Bronx Republican Kristy Marmorato would mandate that city schools stock the portable, suction-based devices on site. It already has support from 11 Democrats and four other Republicans, and was expected to be the subject of a public hearing this month. The devices, which can be self-administered and are considered an alternative to the Heimlich maneuver, usually run $50 to $70 each, but Long Island-based LifeVac has offered to supply each Big Apple school with a device and an instructional video on how they work at no charge, according to the company. 3 NYC Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato (R-Bronx) sponsored a bill that would mandate city schools stock 'airway clearance devices' to help prevent choking deaths. James Keivom Heidi Felix, LifeVac's vice president of sales, said the company has already donated more than 10,000 devices to schools nationwide and welcomes doing the same in NYC. There's more than 1,800 public schools and about 900 private schools in the Big Apple. The issue is personal for Marmorato. 3 LifeVac has already donated more than 10,000 devices to schools nationwide and welcomes doing the same in NYC. LifeVac She had a scary incident eight years ago when her then-18-month-old daughter choked on a piece of apple. A trained health care professional, Marmorato was able to save her daughter — but recalled it was a 'very frightening experience.' Her grandfather, Michael Rendino, died three decades ago while choking on a piece of meat at a restaurant after the Heimlich maneuver failed. 3 More than 1,800 public schools and about 900 private schools in the Big Apple would have the life-saving devices under the bill. Monkey Business – 'This is not just about my child,' she said. 'It's about all the children in New York City. Even if one device saves one kid's life, it's tremendous, and it's a win for parents and families.' She said she expects the legislation to be approved,considering it won't cost taxpayers a cent. Albany pols are reviewing similar legislation to require schools statewide to stock 'airway clearance devices.' City Hall spokesman Zachary Nosanchuk said the Department of Education and Mayor's Office will review the legislation, but added 'we continue to train [school] staff to use the Heimlich maneuver' because it remains the 'recommended first-aid technique to save children who are choking.'
