Mom 'stood up and started pounding her chest' at the dinner table—her 13-year-old's response became her lifeline

As soon as the boy noticed the signs of discomfort the mom displayed, he jumped into action to save her.

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

13-year-old scout, Drew Yakubesan (center) with dad (L) and mom (R) after saving her life. (Cover Image Source: YouTube| LOCAL 4)

A Sterling Heights teenager, Drew Yakubesan, has become a prominent example of astuteness and vigilance, according to LOCAL 4 News. The 13-year-old saved his mum, Jennifer, after an unexpected event during their family dinner. The mom was seated at the dinner table with the rest of the family and abruptly got up mid-dinner and showed signs of discomfort. Her son quickly assessed the situation and jumped in to rescue her with a smart recall. He is being praised for keeping his composure and handling an emergency like a true hero.

Parents having dinner with teenage son at dinner table. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Heide Benser)

Emergency physician Frank McGeorge, who had a conversation with the heroic teen later on, shared that people with medical expertise are well-versed in dealing with emergencies. However, he admitted that before doctors can arrive, anything helpful done by citizens present can also make a massive difference. Drew did exactly that and was commended by the physician. The mom recalled how the dreadful event unfolded. She was having dinner with her son and husband when she suddenly started feeling uneasy. “I stood up and started pounding my chest,” she recalled. She was unable to speak and tried to look at her husband and son to signal for help. “I made a gasping motion so they could see I needed help,” Jennifer explained.

Woman feeling uneasy and holding throat. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by muratdeniz)

The duo quickly realized that the mom was choking. As much as she tried, she was unable to dislodge the food stuck in her airway. With each second, she found it harder to breathe and her son, Drew, jumped into action. Being a Scout, the boy had learned a little about emergencies and first aid procedures. One of the things he’d learned was the Heimlich Maneuver. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the method is administered to choking adults or children who are conscious but can’t breathe. It is done by giving abdominal thrusts by holding a person from behind to forcefully dislodge whatever might be blocking their airway.

Heimlich maneuver infographic poster with steps of first aid and effective technique to save people life. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Siberian Art)

“I got up without hesitation, got behind her, and performed the Heimlich maneuver,” Drew said. However, that didn’t seem to work well and he was still unable to clear her airway. The teenager didn’t give up and precisely recalled everything he knew to try alternatives. “I hit her between the shoulder blades hard enough to dislodge the food. She spit it out and that was a great relief for all of us,” the 13-year-old recalled. He credited his Scout training for being able to learn and understand how to perform the Heimlich Maneuver effectively to save his mom. Without it, he said, he might not have been able to do much.

Teenage boy relieved and hugging mom. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by zoranm)

“I had no hesitation because of the training I received over multiple years of scouting,” the boy remarked. His mum is ever grateful that he intervened courageously and used his lessons to provide life-saving help. “Hundred percent, thousand percent. If he hadn’t known, I don’t know if I would be here,” Jennifer added. She also emphasized the need to be aware of such procedures should anyone ever witness someone in need. “Without it, you could be a bystander to someone dying. And then what are you going to feel like if you could have helped but didn’t have the skills?” she said.