ER doctor began choking on her sandwich — then gave a silent sign to the cashier, who instantly knew what to do
When in trouble, it's always important to reach out for help. When an ER physician began choking on her food, she immediately gestured the universal sign of choking, which was recognized by the Loyola University Medical Center cafeteria cashier, who was able to save her from a deadly emergency, as reported on People.
During a lunch break, Dr. Joan Dimopoulos of Loyola University Medical Center was at the cafeteria eating a chicken sandwich when a portion of the meal got lodged in her throat. That's when Keztly Angel, the cafeteria cashier, noticed the doctor gesturing to her the universal sign for choking and sprang into action. The cashier immediately began performing the Heimlich maneuver on Dimopoulos after the young employee learned the life-saving technique as a student at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Ill.
Recalling the tense situation, Angel revealed that she initiated the help when she noticed others "just looking at her." "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 have happened if she didn't," Dimopoulous told WGN TV.
Interestingly, it was her first time doing it. Fortunately, her quick thinking helped her save the life of the doctor. Expressing her gratitude, Dimopoulos shared, "I really wanted to say thank you to Keztly. I had a very scary event in our cafeteria. I couldn't breathe, and she recognized that I gave the universal choking sign. She had the courage to help me."
In a 2024 study authored by Shunsuke Kuroda for the Journal of Nippon Medical School, researchers analyzed 1,947 choking cases from Japan’s National EMS database and found that the Heimlich maneuver successfully relieved airway obstruction in 46.6% of cases. The success rate was notably higher (around 60%) in children under 15 years and in patients who remained conscious, highlighting the maneuver’s life-saving potential when done promptly and correctly.
The doctor presented the cashier with flowers as a token of appreciation during a special ceremony to recognize her efforts to save her life. "I’m just so grateful that you were there, and that you had the awareness and the knowledge and the courage to act," she added. Angel, who has been working at the cafeteria for a year, enjoys her work as a cashier. "I love it here," she said. "The team is amazing, and it’s a great environment to work in," she added.