Prepared

It's been said that when the time for action arrives, the time for preparation has passed.

Recently, someone I know was sitting at a table in a public picnic area making small talk with an older woman. Suddenly, the woman stopped talking, looked panicked, and then motioned that she was choking.

This person quickly stood up and successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on her. She was a bit shaken up, but otherwise fine.

They continued to talk, and no one would have ever known what had transpired, but as soon as another member of our party was present, the older woman expressed that this person I know had just saved her life.

I'm glad that this person I know was prepared to take quick action to help in this situation. I keep referring to him or her as "this person I know" because he or she is a fairly loyal blog-reader, and I know that he or she would be embarrassed if I made a big deal out of it.

I'm sure glad that in the right place, at the right time, this person was prepared do what was necessary. I think that I probably would've just panicked, but some people are cool as cucumbers.