Westfield State University dining commons employee honored for saving life of choking student

Westfield State University employee saves student

Gene Galuszka, of Southwick, a Westfield State University employee, talks about using the Heimlich maneuver to save a student recently. (Jeanette DeForge/Republican staff)

WESTFIELD – Everything Gene Galuzska knows about the Heimlich maneuver he learned from television and posters he has glanced at while waiting in the doctor’s office.

But that didn’t stop him from saving the life of a Westfield State University who was choking on a piece of chicken last week.

He was working his usual shift in the university dining commons on Dec. 7 when a nearby student nudged him. He realized the young man was choking, couldn’t talk and was having a difficult time breathing.

Galuzska immediately dropped what he was doing, wrapped his arms around the student’s abdomen and started giving him abdominal thrusts, once, twice, three times.

“I tried four times, and the food wouldn’t come out. And, I tried a few more times and it came out,” Galuzska said.

Once the student took a few deep breaths, he shook Galuszka’s hand and thanked him for saving his life.

“I told him he scared the shit out of me,” he said, laughing.

One week after his save, his fellow employees and students gathering for dinner recognized Galuzska with a citation honoring him for his quick-thinking that saved the student.

“Someone needs help, you help. That’s it,” he said. “A lot of people would do the same thing I did. I was just there.”

The Heimlich maneuver, now known as abdominal thrusts, is taught by the American Red Cross and other organizations, but can be administered by someone with no training. Typically, it is needed when a choking person can’t speak and is having a difficult time breathing, said Dr. Seth Gemme. Gemme is vice chairman of clinical operations for emergency medicine at Baystate Health and assistant professor of emergency medicine for the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School at Baystate.

The agency also suggests that people first try having the choking person bend at the waist and hit them five times between their shoulder blades to try to dislodge the object.

To help a choking adult, you wrap your hands around their torso, near the belly button, and give upward thrusts in the hopes of dislodging the object, which is usually food, Gemme said.

It typically takes repeated thrusts before it is successful, especially when the victim is taller than the person trying to help, but it does work, he said.

If the victim loses consciousness they should be placed supine on the ground and the person can push in the same areas of the abdomen to try to dislodge the object, he said.

Galuszka, who is about 6 feet tall and similar height to the student, said he suffered a stroke about 10 years ago and lost a lot of muscle in his upper body. It means he isn’t as strong as he once was which probably made it more difficult, he said.

Galuszka said the entire episode lasted maybe five or 10 minutes, and he never even got the student’s name. His supervisor sat with him for a bit just to make sure he was OK.

A long-term retired tile worker, Galuszka started working as a “float” at the dining commons about 18 months ago just for something to do. He works 20 hours a week and said he really enjoys being at the university.

“It has been a great job. The kids are great, and the supervisors are great,” said Galuzska, who lives in Southwick with his daughter Erica Ireland, a West Springfield police officer, and his three grandchildren.

His responsibilities include replenishing supplies and really do anything that is needed to keep the commons going. Galuszka jokes that his most important job is stocking the ice cream when it runs out – and the sprinkles, especially the sprinkles.

“We really enjoy having Gene here,” said Maria Lees, dining room manager who presented Galuszka with the citation. “He gets along with everyone and the students appreciate his sense of humor. He is always ready to help with anything.”

With about 2,500 students eating most of their meals in the dining room, staff occasionally does have to handle issues like a student passing out or just not feeling well, but they are rare. She couldn’t remember another instance of a student choking so badly they needed assistance.

This isn’t the first time Galuszka has saved a life. He was on vacation 30 or 40 years ago in Cancun, Mexico, when he jumped into the water to save someone who was drowning.

Westfield State University employee saves student

Westfield State University Dining Room Manager Maria Lees honors one of her employees, Gene Galuszka with a citation for saving a choking student. (Submitted photo)

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