Rand Paul recently made headlines when he performed the Heimlich maneuver on Senator Joni Ernst after she began choking at a lunch meeting. The occurrence, which occurred on Wednesday June 19th, 2019, has been described as a “heroic act” and “impressive show of civic duty.”
Senator Paul, an outspoken politician who has been in the spotlight for years, revealed what had happened during the lunch gathering while in an interview on Fox News. He recalled that Senator Ernst began coughing and was unable to speak, leading him to take quick action. “Fortunately, I know the Heimlich maneuver,” he said. “I did it and she was fine.”
When asked how he learned the life saving-maneuver, Paul responded that he “never took a class, but it’s something you learn when you’re in medical school.” He claims to the have the ability to act quickly in a situation such as this because of his background in medicine.
Senator Ernst was very grateful to Paul for his assistance, showing her appreciation for the quick action he took. She told reporters “I am so thankful to Sen. Paul for his help.”
Senator Paul’s quick thinking has been praised by his colleagues as well. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took to Twitter to say that Paul “always has his Senate family’s back.” He also thanked Paul for his “incredible display of heroism last night.”
Though Senator Paul does not appear to care for the attention he’s getting, it’s clear that he saved Senator Ernst’s life and should be commended for his heroic act. It goes to show that no matter one’s political views, true heroism can be found in the small acts of kindness we see everyday.