House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	January 14, 2021 02:24 PM
From:	Representative Michael J. Driscoll
To:	All House members
Subject:	Requiring Heimlich Maneuver Training for Food Establishment Employees

Without proper training, anyone who has witnessed someone choking can attest to feeling helpless. Choking emergencies transpire most often in establishments where food is served, it is critical to ensure food service workers are trained to act appropriately and quickly. They are the first line of defense in these situations where timing is critical to saving lives. The National Safety Council states that 2,400 people died of choking in a public place in 2018. The Heimlich maneuver, when administered correctly, has the ability to save countless individuals from choking to death. Therefore, this legislation creates a free-standing act to require all food servers and supervisors at a restaurant, hotel, or other establishment that serves food on premise receive proper training in the Heimlich maneuver. By providing restaurant workers with proper Heimlich maneuver training we can ensure that should this emergency arise, there is someone near-by to provide this life-saving maneuver. All Pennsylvanians are better protected this way. Every food establishment worker can have peace of mind knowing they have the proper training and skills to save someone’s life when the unthinkable happens. Please join me in co-sponsoring this potentially life-saving legislation.
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Introduced as HB236