
Saving someone’s life typically isn’t a New Year’s resolution, but Wisconsin TSA Officer (TSO) Brenda Cartwright can now cross that off her list.
On New Year’s Day, Cartwright and her grandson were dining at a family restaurant in Mosinee when they noticed a sudden commotion at a nearby table where two teenagers were seated.
The Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) TSO said she first noticed a look of fear and panic on the teens’ faces and then saw signs of choking as one of the diners excessively coughed and struggled to breathe.
Cartwright sprang into action, performing the Heimlich maneuver on the young diner. On the third attempt, she was able to dislodge the food, helping the teen to again breathe.
While Cartwright downplayed her heroic actions, she said she was “just grateful the young lady was OK.” She credits her quick actions to high school health class where she learned the maneuver while training to be a nurse.
She encourages everyone to know this lifes
aving skill.
“Please take a class,” said Cartwright. “You never know when you will need it. This is the second time in my life I had to use what I learned. The first one was shortly after high school and was a joint effort between me, another waitress and a frantic mother.”
She noted it doesn’t have to be an actual class; YouTube offers videos, including lessons on what to do if you are alone and choking.
TSA Wisconsin Assistant Federal Security Director-Generalist Chris Simonsen credits TSA’s training in helping officers, like Cartwright, respond to high stress situations such as this.
“Even though there is no nexus of saving a person from choking and her TSA job, I do feel working as a Transportation Security Officer in stressful situations helped Brenda act fast while remaining calm,” said Simonsen. “Every day, TSA protects our nation’s travelers from harm, and we do it with great precision and outstanding customer service.”
He added that helping others is second nature for a TSO.
“As a professional civil servant, it’s just part of the gig with TSA,” Simonsen said. “Brenda encountered a situation that allowed her to continue the ability to serve her community and helped save a life. I am thankful to have TSO Cartwright in our agency and part of Team Wisconsin!”
By Jayme Loppnow, TSA Wisconsin