He finally got to practice what he’s preached: At 96, Dr. Henry Heimlich at last got the chance to perform the life-saving technique he invented.
Heimlich now lives at the Deupree House senior living facility. When fellow resident Patty Ris, 87, started choking on a piece of hamburger in the dining room, maître d’ Perry Gaines ran to her assistance — only to find Heimlich already in position to use his technique for clearing a blocked airway.
As Gaines notes, that’s usually up to staff to do — “but, it is Dr. Heimlich.”
Heimlich invented his namesake maneuver back in the 1970s and has demonstrated it countless times. But this was the first time he’d done it for real.
“When I used it, and she recovered quickly, it made me appreciate how wonderful it has been to be able to save all those lives,” Heimlich said afterward.
In an interview with The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ris said she wrote the retired surgeon a note: “God put me in this seat next to you.”
Bryan Reynolds, a spokesman for the Deupree House’s owners, says Heimlich is very active for his age and regularly exercises.
Heimlich’s son, Phil, thinks it’s “impressive” that a “96-year-old man could perform that.” Pretty neat, too.