Clark County Fire District 3 this week honored caregiver Donna Welker with its Life Saver Award for her successful use of the Heimlich maneuver and CPR to aid a choking victim May 13 at Aldred Homes adult care facility in Battle Ground.
District 3 Chief Steve Wrightson said Welker tried to get a woman, who Wrightson said was in her 90s, to stop choking. The abdominal thrusts removed the obstruction, he said, but the woman was no longer able to breathe, so Welker performed CPR.
The woman died a week or so later due to other medical issues, Wrightson said, but the district wanted to recognize Welker’s efforts.
“Not everybody is willing to do that,” Wrightson said.
District 3 offers an online course to help people learn how to deal with someone who’s choking, with an in-person certification at the end. Wrightson said people can contact the district at 360-892-2331 or their local fire department for more information on CPR, choking rescue techniques and other first aid courses.
