Barber gives aid to choking Airman Published July 22, 2008 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Julius Gines thought it was going to be just a routine day for him, cutting hair in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service barber shop at Keesler Medical Center. It never occurred to him he would soon be a hero. About 9:30 a.m. July 10, he was sitting in the shop waiting for customers when he heard someone pass by his door coughing. "I thought it was just someone who had swallowed the wrong way," he explained. "But the coughing got harder and harder so I went into the corridor and saw an Airman gasping for breath. "I asked him if he was all right. He didn't answer but was making a fanning motion. I then asked if he had eaten something that was causing the problem but he shook his head, 'No.' I thought he might have something in his throat so I got behind him and did the Heimlich maneuver. He did the lifesaving technique twice, but nothing came out. He asked again if he had eaten or drank something and again he shook his head, 'No.' "I did the Heimlich again and still nothing was ejected," Mr. Gines recalled. "I tried it once more, this time getting lower and pulling up really hard. Finally, he coughed up some phlegm." As soon as the Airman's airway was clear, Mr. Gines went into the barber shop, got a chair and had him sit down. In the meantime, someone had contacted the emergency room and some of its personnel hurried to check on the Airman and took him to the ER. "The Airman returned an hour or two later to thank me," Mr. Gines said. "I told him I was glad to help and that I hoped someone would do the same for me if I ever needed it." The Airman was a Phase II student who had graduated two days earlier. He was leaving that day for his new assignment at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Mr. Gines said it was fortunate the Airman experienced his difficulty in front of the barber shop since his was the only open doorway along the basement corridor for some distance. He noted that he hadn't had any type of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training since college back in 1989. "I was glad I was there for him," Mr. Gines remarked. "I felt proud and that I had done something worthwhile. I was so excited by the event, I couldn't stop talking about it the rest of the day. Now everyone calls me 'First Responder.'" Alerted to Mr. Gines' action by another passing Airman, Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Dan Wyman, 81st Medical Group commander, later recognized Mr. Gines for his quick life-saving effort by presenting him with a 81st MDG commander's coin.