In a display of quick action that may very well have been life-saving, a 15-year-old Dighton Junior Firefighters candidate came to the rescue of a choking woman at a Fall River restaurant. The teen, identified as Ben Courville, was dining at the 99 Restaurant with his mother when he noticed unusual signs from the neighboring table: a woman was struggling with her food.
Ben didn't hesitate to quickly step in and perform the Heimlich maneuver, a skill he learned through the Dighton Junior Firefighters program. "I saw some stuff that wasn’t really normal and I asked if she was choking and she nodded her head, so that’s when I got up and I performed the Heimlich maneuver," Ben told WHDH. His mother, Christine, detailed the moments to WHDH, sharing how Ben assessed the situation and took decisive action.
The Dighton Fire Department recognized Ben's brave effort on their Facebook page, expressing their pride and highlighting the positive impact of the training given to their young volunteers. "Notifications like this is what makes the time and effort that ALL of the Dighton Junior Firefighters instructors devote to these young men and women well worth it," the department's social media post read, as reported by both WHDH and MassLive.
This incident has brought to light not only the courage and readiness of one young individual but also the critical importance of first responder training for youths. The Dighton Junior Firefighters program is known to provide comprehensive training, including CPR and first responder certification, which clearly came to great use in this instance. Ben hopes that this incident can serve to inspire others to learn life-saving skills. "I just think people should learn that stuff in case, even if it’s just a family member at the dinner table, it’s definitely helpful to know," he said in the statement to WHDH. The family of the woman expressed their gratitude by covering the Courvilles' meal, a small gesture for a dramatic act that kept their family whole.
