Teen on school trip knew help would arrive late for stranger choking on food — her quick act saved the woman's life
In a moment of emergency, anything we can do to help makes a massive difference. 16-year-old Violet Ammon is being hailed as a hero for stepping into action as soon as she noticed a woman choking, per KATU 2 ABC. The student of Silverton High School was on a field trip when she came across the situation and sprang into action. Her prompt response and skillful action have become an inspiration and a leading example for many. Ammon was enjoying her field trip at lunch like every other student when she spotted a woman choking.
The teenage girl spared no second thought and ran up to the stranger, asked if she needed help and immediately alerted those around. However, that was not all, the girl went one step further to administer life-saving help. Ammon quickly performed the Heimlich Maneuver. According to Mass General Brigham, the method is the most trusted and used one in cases of choking. It helps to clear the airway, allowing the person to breathe again. Mass General Brigham emergency medicine doctor Wendy Macias-Konstantopoulos, MD, suggested how one should deal with a choking hazard and impressively, Ammon followed the same steps.
The doctor explained that the first step is to call 911 or emergency services. Next, it is cautioned that people do not use the Heimlich Maneuver on people who can talk and breathe. If the case is as such, sharp blows on the back can also help relieve the situation. However, like in this case, if the person is holding their throat or signaling that they can’t breathe, then the Heimlich Maneuver may be administered. The life-saving help is given by positioning oneself behind the choking person and wrapping one’s arms around their torso. The next steps are to place one's hands just above the belly button and below the ribcage and to pull inward and upward on the diaphragm to force air out of the lungs to expel the blockage. This is to be repeated up to 5 times.
Ammon did just that and managed to successfully remove the item that blocked her airway. The medics arrived but all thanks were owed to the 16-year-old who performed the technique in time to help the woman breathe. "I took a CPR and first aid class through Silverton CPR. My instructor was Tim Houser and he kind of certified me and taught me the ropes of CPR and first aid," Violet recalled. She mentioned that she didn’t think much and rushed soon after she saw the person in need. Alyssa Ogle, Ammon’s teacher, nominated the teenager for the “Lifesaving Award” given to individuals who help during emergency services.
Right enough, for making the difference that she did, she was recognized by the Red Cross with the award. Her teacher commended her and said that she was beyond deserving of the award. She said, "We were on a trip for our leadership class. We were doing some shopping for the holiday season for families in need. And a bunch of people in a room, no one helping, just Violet.”