By Julia Train
An Estell Manor educator, Sarah Foley, was honored on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for administering the Heimlich maneuver and saving a choking coworker, Jennifer Graff, at a work dinner.
Foley and Graff, the secretary for the Estell Manor School District superintendent, were having dinner at Dock’s Oyster House in Atlantic City with other colleagues.
The coworkers were sitting and talking at a long table in the restaurant’s second level. Graff tried swallowing her steak, but said she felt the bite get lodged in her throat.
“I grabbed my water, and I was trying to drink it, [but] the water was just coming out of my mouth,” she said.
Graff’s coworker sitting next to her then noticed she was starting to panic. When Graff stood up and grabbed her throat, her coworkers realized she was choking.
“Out of nowhere— I didn’t know it was [Foley] at first—and someone came up behind me, gave me the Heimlich maneuver, and then I threw up all over myself and the piece of meat flew out of my mouth onto the ground,” said Graff. “It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. I literally thought I was gonna die.”
For Foley, her reaction was instinct. She scanned the situation and performed the Heimlich. She said it only took two thrusts before the steak was dislodged.
Foley, who’s in her fourth year in her current role, was CPR trained during her time as a coach for high school sports. She was also previously an assistant principal and said it was useful there, too.
Although she’s grateful for the appreciation, Foley was surprised to be nominated for the award.
“I don’t really think I did anything all that great. I just did what needed to be done,” said Foley. “It was just my civic responsibility.”
