By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Savannah Court resident is alive and well today, thanks to 2 very on-the-ball workers at the extended living facility in Minden.
Shendeka Williams and Catherine Jackson, Resident Care Associates, were honored with plaques for their heroics Thursday by Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker.
“This is to honor you for your actions … that you didn’t have to do,” Parker said. “You saved the life of an individual here, and we felt it was good to recognize citizens taking action. We love you and we thank you.”
On August 3, Williams noticed a resident choking on spaghetti in the dining hall.
“I was in the kitchen, and Shen started hollering ‘he’s choking,’” Jackson said. “I ran out there and Shen had started doing it first.”
“It” was the Heimlich maneuver.
“Then, I gave her a break, and I started doing it,” she continued.
Savannah Court Executive Director Nancy Hines said the gentleman had stopped breathing when the two women stepped in to help.
“This is the first time they’ve had to use the Heimlich maneuver, but they practice it,” Hines said. “We train for this and CPR every year, they are certified. We are even trained to do it on infants.”
Both ladies said they were frightened … but mostly after it was over.
Williams said her instincts “just kicked in.”
“I didn’t even think about it,” she said. “I just started doing it.”
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