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He only wanted breakfast, but saved a life instead
White Plains man performs Heimlich on choking victim
Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES
Bob Johnston, left, enjoys breakfast at Marie's Diner with the restaurant's owner Bobby Cooper while discussing how he saved a man's life there in November by using the Heimlich maneuver when the man began choking on a piece of potato.
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People never know when they might be called upon to save a person's life and no one knows that better than White Plains resident Bob Johnston.
Johnston, 69, said he rolled into Marie's Diner in La Plata on Nov. 13 like he does most mornings to have breakfast. He was sitting at a table when he heard a woman screaming that her husband was having a heart attack.
Without a second thought, the retired Washington, D.C., firefighter jumped out of his chair and hurried to assist the man who was apparently choking on something he had eaten.
"He was holding his throat with both hands, he couldn't get air and he was bent over the table," Johnston said. "I used the Heimlich maneuver on him. I did it once and he still couldn't breathe. He passed out. I gave it another shot and nothing so I told someone to call 911. The third time I hit him really hard, he threw up and a piece of potato was dislodged."
Johnston said he stayed with the couple until he was sure the man was feeling OK.
"Then I went back to my seat to finish my breakfast," he said. "The couple thanked me and walked out."
The man and woman are infrequent customers at the restaurant but nobody has seen them since the choking incident, Johnston said, adding he did not know the man's name.
"That situation can be kind of embarrassing," he said. "A lot of people are standing around with one foot nailed to the floor because they don't know what to do. They want to help but they don't know how."
The Southern Maryland chapter of the American Red Cross is going to present Johnston with the organization's certificate of merit award at 8 a.m. Jan. 27 at the La Plata Rotary Club meeting at Outback Steakhouse, said Mike Zabko, CEO of the local chapter of the Red Cross.
The Red Cross has presented the award, which is signed by President Barack Obama in this case, to more than 12,000 people since 1911, Zabko said.
Johnston's heroic act is a prime example of why folks should seriously consider taking a Red Cross cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid course, Zabko said.
"Bob was called upon to save a life that day just like we all could be," he said. "The person was choking and Bob stepped in and saved his life."
The Southern Maryland chapter holds free CPR and first aid classes throughout Southern Maryland.
"You never know when it's going to be your turn to save somebody's life," he said.
Bobby Cooper, the owner of Marie's Diner, said he is setting up a time for the Red Cross to come to the restaurant and teach the course to his employees so that if another emergency occurs they will be ready to jump in and help.
"I'm going to try to get everybody to take the course," he said. "It's a good idea, especially for restaurant employees."
Johnston's quick response when he realized that the man was choking is commendable, Cooper said.
"He was really lucky that Bob was there that day," he said. "Bob was very aware of the situation. It was obvious that he had training."
Johnston is involved in a lot of community activities, including Christmas in April, said Jason Joson, president of the La Plata Rotary Club.
Joson said he was not surprised when he heard that Johnston had saved a man's life.
"Bob's always willing to go beyond the call of duty to help people," he said.
"When I heard that he actually saved a life I knew that it wasn't out of character for him. He's a great guy."
Johnston, who has worked at Baldus Real Estate for 28 years and is currently the company's commercial agent, said everybody should consider taking the Red Cross CPR and first aid course. Learning the Heimlich maneuver — where a person thrusts under the diaphragm with clenched hands on someone who is choking — is an essential lifesaving tool, he said.
"People should absolutely take the course," he said. "You don't know when you might be called on to save a life."
Save a life
The Southern Maryland chapter of the American Red Cross offers free cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid classes at the organization's La Plata office on W&W Industrial Road and various other locations in Southern Maryland.
Call 301-934-2066 or 888-276-2767 or go to http://chapters.redcross.org/md/charlescounty/news.htm for more information.
