Schaumburg restaurant manager lauded for life-saving Heimlich

One might think a patron choking on food is one of the most likely emergencies at a restaurant.

But when Chandler's Chophouse Manager Bob Whitehead used his training in the Heimlich maneuver and CPR while coming to the aid of an 85-year-old diner, it was the first time he'd had to rely on it in decades.

"I have done this only once before in 30 years," said Whitehead, who's been at the Schaumburg restaurant for nine years now.

For his lifesaving efforts, the Schaumburg Park District will honor Whitehead with an outstanding service award at its board of commissioners meeting Thursday night. Whitehead is not an employee of the park district, but Ala Carte Entertainment operates Chandler's in the clubhouse of the district's Schaumburg Golf Club.

"We're very proud of his swift action and we do take training in lifesaving techniques seriously," said park district Executive Director Jean Schlinkmann.

Whitehead said it was a typically crowded Wednesday night - when Chandler's offers its hamburger special - that potential tragedy struck the female customer who regularly comes to the restaurant with her daughter and son-in-law.

However, it wasn't a typical choking incident, in which the victim tends to gasp for breath and turn red as a first sign of trouble. Instead, the woman instantly passed out and began turning blue after her windpipe was blocked, Whitehead said.

A golf course employee heard the woman's daughter shouting at her, spotted Whitehead a couple of tables away and immediately got his attention.

Whitehead said he was at the woman's side in a moment. She already was limp as he lifted her up to apply the Heimlich maneuver. He then laid her down on the floor, and was preparing to use CPR by clearing the obstruction in her throat with his finger when she began breathing again.

Those adrenaline-charged moments were so surreal that Whitehead said he's no longer sure if it lasted a matter of seconds or minutes. But by the time paramedics arrived, the woman appeared to be recovered and even refused a precautionary trip to the hospital.

"She was a little embarrassed," Whitehead said.

While he hasn't been in contact with the woman since that night, he said he hopes to see her and her family again at the restaurant soon.