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Webelo Scout's big squeeze dislodges Tootsie Roll from little brother's windpipe

Published on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009 at 12:12 am | Last updated on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009 at 12:12 am 29 Comments

TURNER — Webelo Scout Alex Whitehouse earned his Readyman pin a year ago, showing he'd mastered some basic lifesaving skills.

Thursday was the first chance he had to put them to use.

Alex, 10, and his two younger brothers were upstairs in their Parish Hill Road home, getting ready for bed. Brother Damian Bailey, 8, had gone to his own room. Brother Drake Gibbert, 4, had sneaked a piece Tootsie Roll from the family's Halloween stash and was in Alex' bedroom, happily jumping on Alex's bed.

"I told him to stop," Alex said. "I'd told him that before, that I didn't want him jumping on my bed."

He should've listened. Drake fell off the bed and the candy lodged in his throat.

"He started making this sound, like he was going to hurl," Alex said.

Ever the scout, Alex grabbed him, pushed his head down and hugged him in the Heimlich maneuver, just like his Webelos handbook had taught him. The candy popped loose, and Drake began crying.

"He was real mad, because he didn't get to finish the Tootsie Roll," Alex said.

Mother Michelle Gibbert said she was downstairs checking her e-mail when boys came down together, Alex leading his crying brother. 

"It happened really quickly, but Alex did just the right thing," she said. "That's what I'm most proud of. He kept his head about him."

Gibbert, the Cub Master for her son's Pack 187 in Turner, said she was glad he'd had the training.

"I mean, that's what it's there for, to give them some life lessons they wouldn't get otherwise," Gibbert said. Alex has been matter-of-fact about his exploits Thursday night.

"And Drake tells people that Alex saved him," Gibbert said. "I told my folks that they should be pretty proud of Alex, because he did a big thing for his brother."

staylor@sunjournal.com

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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest

RyanFatz's picture

Impressed

I'm really impressed with Alex's fast reactions.

Nancy1's picture

Wow, what a great thing you

Wow, what a great thing you did Alex!!

ihaterainydays's picture

Now Drake has another reason

Now Drake has another reason to look up to his big brother. Good job Alex, you should be very proud of yourself!

dmoreau's picture

Pack 007 salutes you! Great

Pack 007 salutes you! Great job Alex! You’re going to make one fine Boy Scout.
Sincerely,
Jeremy McElfresh
Cub Master, Pack 007

  • Agree Agree (1)
BOOBER's picture

GREAT JOB ALEX. ALSO FOR

GREAT JOB ALEX. ALSO FOR 1231414 ITS REALLY NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUISNESS IF SHE HAD 10 KIDS WITH 10 LAST NAMES.THATS THE PROBLEM NO A DAYS PEOPLE CANT MIND THEIR OWN DAMN BUISNESS.OBVIOUSLY SHES DOING A GOOD JOB RAISING THOSE BOYS BYE THE ARTICLE.SO IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT

mainermike's picture

AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike

AS I SEE IT, by Mainer Mike Brown

A story with a happy ending-it's nice to read about one considering that all you read about is bad news on the internet and in the newspapers.

1231414's picture

Three brothers, three last

Three brothers, three last names. So typical of Maine families.

BIGGITY BUMP's picture

You sure are brave, posting

You sure are brave, posting a comment like this under an internet name, why not put your whole name on here, show Maine who you are and that you feel this way, I dare you.

tron's picture
verified

Just as brave as you are,

Just as brave as you are, posting a critique under an alias without divulging your true identity.

BIGGITY BUMP's picture

Not even close to being the

Not even close to being the same. The majority of my true identity is shown here and anyone that came on here that knows me would know it is me. And if SJ would allow me to edit my information I guarantee my full name would be in there.

gaby's picture

What does that have to do

What does that have to do with the article....

exoggensani's picture

I bet that mom and dad are

I bet that mom and dad are very proud of what a wonderful thing Alex did for his brother! It's wonderful that Alex knew how to save his brother Drake. Drake will never forget his brother saved his life.

BRAVO ALEX!

ReaganRepublican's picture
verified

was that necessary? This is

was that necessary? This is a kind sweet article, and your negativity just can't leave that be. I hope you have a much brighter happier day than the way it started off!

Robert61's picture

Bravo! To those who have

Bravo! To those who have posted derogatory coments about Scouting in these very blogs, I say, remember this moment!

tron's picture
verified

To equate knowing and using

To equate knowing and using abdominal thrusts with scouting is a stretch. I commend this young man, but I would like to know how he learned this procedure. Was it from the American Heart Association or the Americna Red Cross, both excellent organizations? If so scouting was a mere conduit, such as would the various classrom kids I've taught on the procedures. As a CPR and First Aid instructor I recommend EVERYONE learn these life saving procedures, whether they're a scout or not.

news4u's picture

Tron writes: "but I would

Tron writes: "but I would like to know how he learned this procedure. Was it from the American Heart Association or the Americna Red Cross, ..."
Does it matter how or where he learned it? The point is he performed the Heimlich Maneuver correctly and saved his brother's life. Enough said!

Robert61's picture

tron as a CPR

tron as a CPR instructor...doubtful, how do you get down on your knees to demonstrate?

tron's picture
verified

I made do, granted I don't

I made do, granted I don't have the experience.....

Robert61's picture

As a Webelos Scout he most

As a Webelos Scout he most likely learned th eprocedure as part of earning his readyman badge, most likely taught by a trained professional, such as your neice and godchild (my wife). Bottom line, would he have known what to do if he had not been in the Scouting program - probably not, and defintiely not at 10 years old! But hey way to knock down a wonderful story about a young man who may have saved his brothers life!

tron's picture
verified

I'm impress, besides being

I'm impress, besides being an RN your wife is also a certified First Aid and CPR instructor, since your Webelos won't be allowed to claim knowledge unless they were properly trained. It's about the right age, fourth and fifth graders are who I trained at St. Mary's, in Augusta>

Robert61's picture

Thats funny, you, in

Thats funny, you, in Augusta, with no license, no car..come on quit the story telling...

Read it right's picture

Shut up, tron.

Shut up, tron.

tron's picture
verified

Quite verbose! Did you get

Quite verbose! Did you get tired of using your OTHER alias?

gaby's picture

..

..

gaby's picture

Why on earth are you picking

Why on earth are you picking this apart like your trying to solve some murder mystery or something.. Alex did a heroic procedure that saved his brothers life no matter where he learned it! Get a life!~

SRV's picture

To be able to react in an

To be able to react in an instant when most would be panicking is extraordinary. Also a wounderful testament to his training as a scout.

jayla's picture

Great job amazing Alex!

Great job amazing Alex!

gaby's picture

Way to go Alex!

Way to go Alex!

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