During a closed-door Republican lunch, Senator Joni Ernst, 53, found herself in a life-threatening situation when she choked on her food. Fellow Republican Senator Rand Paul, swiftly intervened. He performed the Heimlich maneuver to rescue Ernst.

Paul a medical doctor with a background in ophthalmology may have saved her life.

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The Heimlich Maneuver in Action

According to the National Safety Council, "the Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid procedure used to treat upper-airway obstructions aka choking. "

Dr. Paul applied these steps to his colleague.

•  Stand behind the person with one leg forward between the person's legs.
•  Put your arms around the person and locate their belly button.
•  Place the thumb side of one fist against the stomach just above the belly button.
•  Grasp your fist with your other hand and thrust inward and upward into the person's stomach. Use quick, thrusting movements five times or until they expel the item.

The Republican Lunch

Thursday's Senate Republican lunch was hosted by Ernst. It featured a menu highlighting Iowa's culinary delights, including substantial pork chops and beef sandwiches. 

Other Senators who witnessed the event expressed gratitude for Paul's quick and effective response. They also emphasized the importance of knowing how to administer the Heimlich maneuver in such emergencies.

Despite political differences, senators such as Lindsey Graham and Cynthia Lummis commended Senator Paul's life-saving actions. 

After the incident, Ernst and Paul took the opportunity to address their colleagues, stressing the significance of Heimlich maneuver training. 

Senator Ernst, known for her wit, responded to a reporter's post about the incident with a humorous caption, linking the choking episode to her disdain for what she called "woke policies forced down our throats." 

Although she was trying to inject humor into the situation, she received some highly politicized responses to her X post.

About the Senators

Joni Ernst, a Republican senator from Iowa, has been serving since 2015, making history as the first female combat veteran in the Senate. Before her political career, she had a distinguished military service record in the Iowa Army National Guard.

Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, and a leading Libertarian figure, has been serving as a senator since 2011. The incident serves as a reminder that emergencies can happen anywhere, even within the hallowed halls of the Capitol.