The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

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  • Kadie Moore, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital's Human Resources Director, (left) pins a flower on hospital cafeteria cook Willie Baker, hospital cafeteria cook, (center) as Hospital CFO Charles Alford (right) presents him with a plaque. Baker was named a "Hospital Hero" at a celebration Friday afternoon for saving a man's life in the hospital cafeteria on June 30. For The Daily Southerner

    Vidant Edgecombe Hospital hero.jpg
August 27, 2012

Vidant recognizes employee as ‘Hero’

Staff Writer MIRANDA BAINES

TARBORO — Vidant Edgecombe Hospital has a new hero – cafeteria cook Willie Baker. Baker saved the life of a man who became choked while eating in the hospital cafeteria on June 30.

“I stopped what I was doing and walked up behind him and started doing the Heimlich,” said Baker. A cashier in the cafeteria went back to the kitchen to get Baker and when the cook saw what was happening, stepping in to help was a natural, swift reaction.

“It was quick,” said Baker. “You’re just trying to do what you can to help [that person] out.”

After receiving the Heimlich, the man thanked Baker, had a glass of water, was examined by a physician, and walked away from the potentially fatal incident without any lasting effects.

The hospital cafeteria incident wasn’t the first time that Baker stepped in to save a person from choking. He previously performed the Heimlich maneuver on his son, Willie Baker Jr., when he became choked while eating a dinner that he and his sister Quinisha had prepared.

“When it’s your child, you’re going to do something, whether it’s right or wrong,” said Baker. His son is now following in his father’s footsteps, attending culinary school at the Art Institute in Durham.

Hospital CFO Charles Alford, in a celebration in the hospital classroom Friday afternoon, commended Baker for his willingness to react in the June 30 situation while keeping a “level head.” Alford received a plaque and a standing ovation for his new status as “hospital hero.”

“He’s always been a great employee. He’s been great at his job and people enjoy interacting with him,” said Alford. Baker has a hospital employee since 1983. The hospital has been through many changes since Baker signed on, said Alford, most recently becoming part of Vidant Health, but the team atmosphere has remained the same.

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