News-Record.com

Mike Huckabee added another feather to his cap as a potential running mate for John McCain. He saved a fellow Republican's life. In Greensboro, no less.

Huckabee performed the Heimlich maneuver on Robert Pittenger, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, at a luncheon Saturday at the Koury Center.

As you've probably read, Pittenger found himself choking on a piece of food at the state GOP convention here Saturday.

The episode recalled an incident more than a decade ago at a News & Record luncheon, in which a high school athletics director, Sandy Gann of Northwest Guilford, suddenly began choking on a piece of chicken -- while laughing at someone's joke.

He nearly died.

I was sitting at his table and was mortified as he gasped for air and turned red.

Even worse, I had no knowledge of the Heimlich technique and frantically searched for someone who did.

Fortunately, we found that person and the coach survived. It was a scary moment.

The only thing I found more horrifc was nearly choking to death myself. Twice.

Once was in a restaurant near Richmond, Va., six years ago, when I attempted to swallow a piece of steak that was too large.

As I nearly went under for lack of air, none of my dinner mates could understand what was happening until I managed to (ugh) cough up the meat. (You're supposed to grab your throat with both hands to indicate the choking sign, my buddies said later.)

The other time was while eating a slice of tomato at home with only my dog there to witness it. Unfortunately, she could only look on helplessly as I stumbled and gagged. She does not know the Heimlich. But I had remembered how to perform the maneuver on one's self (by using the force of a chair back against my midsection to dislodge the food).

Two strikes and I'm still here, just barely. I still need formal Heimlich training.

And I really need to learn to chew my food better.