US Senator Rand Paul Saves Senator Joni Ernst with Heimlich Maneuver

A US senator, Rand Paul, came to the aid of his colleague Joni Ernst on Thursday when she started choking on her lunch. Paul performed the Heimlich manoeuvre and successfully cleared the obstruction from Ernst's airway. After the incident, Ernst expressed her gratitude on social media, attributing the incident to the frustrating policies being imposed by the Democrats. The choking incident occurred during a lunch gathering hosted by Ernst for her fellow Republican senators, where dishes from her home state of Iowa were served. Images shared on social media showed the menu included items like beef sandwiches, creamed corn, coleslaw, and big pork chops. The specific food item that caused the choking was not disclosed. However, Paul's quick response earned him praise from colleagues, despite previous clashes he had with some of them. Not all attendees witnessed the incident, but two senators recounted the incident afterward, emphasizing the importance of learning the Heimlich manoeuvre. This is not the first time a lawmaker has required such intervention while dining with colleagues, as a similar incident occurred in 2018 involving Senator Joe Manchin and Senator Claire McCaskill. The Heimlich manoeuvre was introduced in 1974 and has been estimated to have saved over 100,000 lives in the US alone. Notable individuals who have been saved by this technique include former President Ronald Reagan, Cher, Edward Koch, Elizabeth Taylor, Goldie Hawn, and several other celebrities. In 2014, actor Clint Eastwood was credited with saving a golf tournament director's life who was choking on a piece of cheese.