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No one was happier that Birches Elementary School fourth-grader Dominic Bricker had paid attention when a character on the Netflix series “Psych” received the Heimlich maneuver than Bricker’s younger brother, Michael, or his parents- Michael and Brooke – and his grandmother, Pat Bricker. No one, that is, but Dominic himself.
On April 29, 2017, while playing at the neighbor’s house, 10-year-old Dominic spotted five-year-old Michael choking on a piece of candy. Michael couldn’t breathe, and he couldn’t speak. A calm-headed and fast-thinking Dominic quickly and appropriately applied the Heimlich maneuver to his brother, dislodging the candy, clearing his airway and saving his life.
Dominic’s efforts earned him great fanfare as the school hosted a celebration on May 22nd in his honor before his family and fourth-grade peers. Superintendent of School Joe Bollendorf expressed the District’s pride in Dominic’s actions before introducing State Senator Fred Madden, freeholder Heather Simmons, Kennedy Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Mary Kay Stailey-Sims, Washington Township Mayor Joann Gattinelli and representatives from the Washington Township ambulance and rescue, who were on hand with proclamations, citations, trophies and T-shirts to give Dominic a true hero’s welcome.
“I was so impressed when Dominic told me, in such a calm manner, what he had done,” said Dr. Stailey-Sims, who attended to Michael at the hospital following his choking episode. “I could tell that he knew exactly what to do at the right time. To me, that makes a hero.”
She presented Dominic with the “Heimlich Hero Award” for his bravery.
“Today we celebrate a positive event in a child’s life and in the life of our community,” Senator Madden said in presenting Dominic with a Joint Legislative resolution. “As a state senator, I get to meet a lot of people, but today is really a special day because I get to meet a real hero. Dominic Bricker’s courage and extraordinary presence of mind is remarkable, commendable and worthy of emulation. We salute him as a young individual of outstanding character and exceptional determination.”
Following the presentation, Kennedy registered nurse Maureen Green gave a brief demonstration on the importance of spotting the signs of someone who is choking, the effectiveness of the Heimlich maneuver and the proper way to administer it to children and infants who may be in distress.
Birches Fourth-Grader Honored for Heroic, Lifesaving Efforts
On April 29, 2017, while playing at the neighbor’s house, 10-year-old Dominic spotted five-year-old Michael choking on a piece of candy. Michael couldn’t breathe, and he couldn’t speak. A calm-headed and fast-thinking Dominic quickly and appropriately applied the Heimlich maneuver to his brother, dislodging the candy, clearing his airway and saving his life.
Dominic’s efforts earned him great fanfare as the school hosted a celebration on May 22nd in his honor before his family and fourth-grade peers. Superintendent of School Joe Bollendorf expressed the District’s pride in Dominic’s actions before introducing State Senator Fred Madden, freeholder Heather Simmons, Kennedy Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Mary Kay Stailey-Sims, Washington Township Mayor Joann Gattinelli and representatives from the Washington Township ambulance and rescue, who were on hand with proclamations, citations, trophies and T-shirts to give Dominic a true hero’s welcome.
“I was so impressed when Dominic told me, in such a calm manner, what he had done,” said Dr. Stailey-Sims, who attended to Michael at the hospital following his choking episode. “I could tell that he knew exactly what to do at the right time. To me, that makes a hero.”
She presented Dominic with the “Heimlich Hero Award” for his bravery.
“Today we celebrate a positive event in a child’s life and in the life of our community,” Senator Madden said in presenting Dominic with a Joint Legislative resolution. “As a state senator, I get to meet a lot of people, but today is really a special day because I get to meet a real hero. Dominic Bricker’s courage and extraordinary presence of mind is remarkable, commendable and worthy of emulation. We salute him as a young individual of outstanding character and exceptional determination.”
Following the presentation, Kennedy registered nurse Maureen Green gave a brief demonstration on the importance of spotting the signs of someone who is choking, the effectiveness of the Heimlich maneuver and the proper way to administer it to children and infants who may be in distress.