ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Being surrounded by doctors and nurses is sort-of an unwritten health benefit for hospital employees like Trina Somora, a housekeeper at Gillette Children's in St. Paul. If you experience a sudden health problem, plenty of qualified people are around to help.
But on Tuesday, Somora was the one taking care of nurse Shelly Rankin.
Rankin was practicing with a new machine, which is designed to dispense medication. To encourage practicing, the machine is currently filled with candy.
Rankin and Somora were enjoying some Whoppers when one of them got stuck in Rankin's throat.
"A couple bites into it, I realize, 'Oh my gosh, I can't breathe,'" Rankin says. "I try to breathe in and nothing passes."
Somora was the only one around. Rankin used the universal sign for choking by putting her hands around her neck. Somora quickly realized what was happening and starting using the Heimlich Maneuver.
"After about three [thrusts], we both kind-of realized this isn't really working," Rankin says. "And all of a sudden she yells in my ear, 'Somebody help! Shelly's choking!'"
Somora tried one more thrust, which released the Whopper from Rankin's airway.
"I've never done this before," Somora says. "And I know I can do it now. I'm just happy that I did it and that she's here."
As a reward, Rankin considered giving Somora a bag of Whoppers. But she decided Life Savers would be more appropriate.
"Thank goodness for Trina," Rankin said. "She's my lifesaver."
(Copyright 2009 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
