By Kathy Mellott
The Tribune-Democrat
EBENSBURG — An Ebensburg man was honored by the Cambria County commissioners Thursday for his quick action in saving a man’s life.
Ralph Hansen, a county employee for the past 14 years, was working in his role as a corrections officer at Cambria County Prison earlier this month when he drew from his past emergency training to help one of the prisoners.
“One inmate called him over.
“Apparently (another) inmate was choking,” President Commissioner Douglas Lengenfelder said.
“He saved this man’s life.”
The unnamed inmate had been eating dinner in his cell – a menu that included apple slices – when his air passage became blocked and he began choking.
He apparently had swallowed three or four or more slices and they became lodged in his throat, placing him in a life- threatening situation.
The slices wouldn’t go down his throat, and he was unable to dislodge them, officials said.
Hansen immediately called 911 for emergency medical assistance, then started doing the Heimlich maneuver, something he’d learned as part of basic first aid training.
“I did my job. I saw the man choking,” he said.
Hansen initially applied pressure to the inmate’s midsection three or four times to get the first couple of apple slices out, then continued until the passageway was cleared.
“I gave him a couple more,” Hansen said.
By the time the ambulance arrived at the prison, the obstruction was completely removed, and the inmate was OK, the commissioners said.
The commissioners presented Hansen with a certificate noting his actions.