Cub Scout saves brother

The boy’s parents intend to reward their son for his level-headedness.

By SEAN BARRON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

McDONALD — Dinner began last Monday with corn dogs for 7-year-old Dominic Hathaway and Patrick Wynyard, 11, and ended with one brother saving the life of the other.

“I came into the living room, took a deep breath and said, ‘Mom, I just saved Dominic’s life,’” explained Patrick, a fifth-grader at Roosevelt Elementary School. “I was kind of scared, but I didn’t show it.”

The two boys were in the kitchen of their Watson-Marshall Road home when Dominic found himself suddenly choking on a piece of the hot dog. He exhibited the classic signs of choking — redness in the face and a hand clutching the throat — but also had close help from his older brother who knew how to apply the Heimlich maneuver.

The life-saving technique was one of several valuable skills Patrick said he learned as a Cub Scout. He also credited his father, Jamie Wynyard, a former Marine, for showing Patrick how it’s done. Both boys are members of Cub Scout Pack 15 of Warren.

At first, Patrick said, he thought his younger brother was “joking around.” But seeing Dominic in distress quickly dispelled that notion, Patrick explained, adding that he had to try the maneuver a few times before the piece of food finally became dislodged.

So, did the youngster take time afterward to ponder the significance of what he accomplished?

“It didn’t faze me as long as Dominic’s OK,” he said nonchalantly.

While experiencing his ordeal, Dominic was frightened because he suddenly realized he was unable to speak. The Roosevelt first-grader, however, was grateful his brother was on hand.

Despite his scare, Dominic added, he still plans to include hot dogs in future dinners.

“My mom just has to cut it up real small,” the youngster said.

The boys’ mother, Karen Hathaway, said she was in the living room watching TV with company and heard nothing unusual in the next room. The next thing Hathaway knew, however, her son had calmly appeared before her and narrated what he had done.

“I consider him a hero. I’m very, very proud of him for acting the way he did,” said Hathaway, who’s also Dominic’s Cub Scout leader. “There was no panic; he handled it better than most adults.”

Hathaway said she and her former husband plan to reward Patrick for his feat but have yet to decide how. For her part, Patrick’s grandmother gave him trading cards he collects.

Patrick offered advice to people who encounter someone choking, such as being sure they don’t panic. Doing so will only exacerbate the situation, he warned.

It’s also imperative to recognize the universal sign of choking, which is placing one or both hands on the neck, he noted. People also should know how to perform the technique by making a fist with the other hand over it, placing the fist slightly above the rib cage and performing upward thrusts.

After his anything-but-typical dinner, does the Sony PlayStation and Pittsburgh Steelers fan and sports lover see himself as a hero?

“I don’t consider myself a hero, I just went on with my life,” he said modestly. “I don’t like to brag.”