It was a cool October morning when clinical dietitian Jean Anderson at Middle Park Health was taking a snack break of peanuts and crackers in her car, according to a post on Facebook. After throwing back a handful of peanuts, Anderson suddenly found herself unable to breathe. Luckily, she was arguably in the best place to choke. A hospital parking lot.

Anderson managed to keep her cool and found the nearest door into the hospital where she knocked for help. Jessica Jimenez, a certified medical assistant, was training a new employee when she heard knocking. Upon opening the back door, she was struck by the smell of peanuts. This led Jimenez into thinking that Anderson was having an allergic reaction and potentially going into anaphylaxis shock.

Anderson whispered to tell Jimenez that she was choking. Jimenez jumped into action by administering the Heimlich maneuver. Jimenez shared that this was her first time preforming the maneuver and was initially afraid of injuring Anderson in the post by Middle Park Health.

Jimenez was in the middle of an abdominal thrust when Dr. Todd Odegaard, a family practice physician, walked out an exam room to see a clinical dietitian in the air.

Although no peanut was ejected, Anderson signaled to Jimenez to pause by tapping her hand. Upon stopping, Anderson found herself able to breathe again.

Jimenez had Genny Fisher, a medical assistant, bring Anderson some water while she sat and caught her breath.

“I could tell Jean was very scared, as evidenced by the look in her eyes,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez made sure to check up on Anderson later in the day and saw that she was doing much better.

“I give Jessica Jimenez in the Granby clinic a huge thankful kudos! I knew I needed help, and she got to work,” Anderson said.

Middle Park Health expressed deep gratitude for these two employees in the post on Facebook.