Heimlich maneuver used to dislodge candy from throat
By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor While attending a first aid training course in the past, Danielle Eichmeyer once joked she would never be able to remember all of the information. About two weeks ago, that training turned a scary situation into a life-saving moment. Eichmeyer, a Marthasville resident who is an instructional assistant in the Wentzville School District, is being praised for her quick action in dislodging a piece of candy that became stuck in a student’s throat. Eichmeyer was supervising lunch one day in the Heritage Intermediate School cafeteria when the student, fourth-grader Dyllan Weicht, urgently ran up to her. Weicht made gestures toward his throat, indicating that he was choking. “I didn’t even think,” Eichmeyer said. “I just spun him around. It was all automatic.” Eichmeyer began performing the Heimlich maneuver while another staff member rushed to get the nurse. She did not see any improvements following a couple of abdominal thrusts and said the boy started to become limp in her arms. She restarted the thrusts and after about four more attempts, a piece of candy flew out, Eichmeyer said. “It was starting to get very scary,” she acknowledged. “I knew it was getting serious.” Eichmeyer has earned dozens of well-wishes through the school district’s Facebook page, including a post from Dyllan’s mom. “There are not enough thank you’s to show my appreciation for what Mrs. Eichmeyer did,” Tonya Weicht wrote. “That’s my little boy and she saved him!” The school district also applauded both the student and Eichmeyer for their quick-thinking actions. Eichmeyer has worked in the Wentzville school district for 18 years and previously spent two years employed in the Wright City R-II School District. “We commend Dyllan for having the presence of mind to get help for himself,” said Principal Dr. Todd Kraft. “And we are very proud of Mrs. Eichmeyer for taking action that resulted in a positive outcome.” Does Eichmeyer feel like a hero? “No, I feel like I was doing my job,” she remarked. “After it was all done, we have benches outside the cafeteria. I sat there and started bawling. After it was all over, I realized how serious it was.” Indeed it was, but it was a happy ending for the longtime educator. “I feel that part of my job is to keep the kids safe,” she said.
Danielle Eichmeyer
