ORLANDO, Fla. – A University of Central Florida police officer used the Heimlich maneuver on Wednesday to save a woman who was choking on campus.
Officer Julie Wilk was on foot patrol when someone alerted her to a woman who was choking nearby. Surveillance video shows the woman, who is a UCF employee, motioning at her throat before Wilk approaches and performs the lifesaving technique.
Wilk was able to stop the woman from choking and the woman required no further medical treatment, according to a news release.
UCF Police Department public information officer Courtney Gilmartin said it was inspiring to see a female officer save another woman's life on International Women's Day and during Safe Knight Week, when officials are promoting campus safety resources to the UCF community.
"In this case, Officer Wilk was in the right place at the right time, and she knew what to do to assist someone in distress," Gilmartin said. "UCFPD hopes her example empowers others to be vigilant and to understand how to help others – whether by learning the Heimlich maneuver, getting CPR certified, etc. -- so that they too can be heroes."