Thank you for not choking

IMAGE VIA NINEDAVES

A few friends came in from D.C. to visit this past week, and I took them around on a tour de Park Slope nightlife. Restaurants, bars, a late night pizza place here and there. You know -- typical stuff. Along the way, I tried to point out the things that made Park Slope unique. The tree-lined streets. The friendly people. The dog shit left behind for everyone to step in. All the things that make Park Slope so great. 

But they didn't pick up on any of that. The only thing they kept mentioning were all the damn first aid choking signs hanging inside every business. Apparently they don't have those in D.C.? And apparently, we have a lot. There was one in the Village Market bodega on 7th Ave and 11th Street. One in Union Hall. One in Excelsior. One in Culture. One in Juventino. And the one picture above, which I snapped at Blueprint. I guess I just never noticed them! 

Luckily, someone else was paying attention. Because that poster totally saved someone's life! 

Galo Aguda runs Romy's Nails on 7th Ave near 10th Street. The other day, 7-year-old Isabella Schlachet was waiting for her mom, Lisa Gorlitsky, to get her nails done. All of a sudden, Isabella started choking on a butterscotch candy. Mom tried to help, but panicked. So Aguda stepped in and performed the Heimlich Maneuver. And wouldn't you know it -- he saved Isabella's life! Good job, Aguda! 

OK, so maybe on of those first aid posters wasn't hanging up in Romy's Nails. Aguda told the Brooklyn Paper that he hadn't even known how to do the Heimlich before, and was just copying things he saw. Since you can't spit in Park Slope without seeing one of those signs, then it has to be them, right? Right?!? 

Here's the survivor Isabella (center), with mom (who's not showing off the manicure as much as I hoped), and hero Galo Aguda.

Photo by Stefano Giovannini

This is an amazing story, but can we talk about the a few odd details? For one, the Brooklyn Paper describes Lisa Gorlitsky as an "actress and shoe model." Totally unnecessary, but hilarious if you ask me. Second, did they have to mention that Isabella vomited too? I mean, I appreciate that they're hard-hitting reporters over at the Brooklyn Paper, but TMI. And finally, as much as I love Stefano Giovannini's photo, DID THEY HAVE TO POSE WITH THE BUTTERSCOTCH CANDY? The poor girl almost died, and now she has to smile next to her near-death weapon!?! RIDICULOUS!