Suffocating Man Performs Self-Tracheotomy With Steak Knife

KNBC.com/News ^ | 5/9/08 | KNBC.com/News

[melt]

OMAHA, Neb. -- An Omaha, Neb., man saved his own life by performing a tracheotomy on himself with a steak knife.

One night last week, Steve Wilder woke up and couldn't breathe -- his air passage had swollen shut.

"It just blocked all the way and I just got up and I panicked," Wilder said.

He didn't think he had time to call and wait for help, so he made an unimaginable choice.

"I got a knife and located it and pushed in and blood went gush," Wilder said.

Blood was gushing out, but air was rushing in.

Wilder was successful at performing a self-tracheotomy.

[melt]

When your life is at steak, you'll do anything...

[cripplecreek]

A real man would have used a keyhole saw or a DA grinder.

[Dysart]

Oh, I think he was just venting. No need to become one-armed.

[heartwood]

He’s done it twice now.

[dynoman]

where are you supposed to stab?

[Responsibility2nd]

Big deal. I once perfomed a hemmoroidectomy on myself.

Ripped that bugger right out with a pen-knife.

[melt]

His life took a fork in the road...

[GovernmentShrinker]

I don’t think so. It sounds like the first time, the doctors did it, so this time he knew more or less what had to be done, and did it. Good for him!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Ah, now I've read the OTHER article about this fellow. The previous tracheotomy was done by a doctor, but the one before that -- the first one -- he did himself. He's got a sense of humor about it to:

his doctor told him that he did a pretty good job on himself. "I told him we should split the bill then," Wilder said.

[Dysart]

Beware if this guy ever asks you over for shish kabob. Particularly if your name is Bob.

[robomatik]

good question! anyone have an answer?

[lilycicero]

Omaha Steak ping.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

...so he made an unimaginable choice.

Unimaginable choice indeed! Even in life-or-death desperation, that still probably takes more nerves than I have (not to mention either some knowledge as to where to stab, or a whole lotta dumb luck). I'm pretty sure I would just die.

[GOPJ]

Did he take apart a ball point pen and stick it in the wound? A straw might collapse..

[melt]

Below the Adam’s Apple: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracheotomy

[elcid1970]

C’mon, enough with the jokes! Let’s celebrate, the man did an incredible act of survival, and he’s alive, thank G-d!

[1FreeAmerican]

IIRC, just below your adams apple there is a dent- puncture there. Any medics out there??

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[BenLurkin]

Just d-mn!

[rabidralph]

You are berry, berry bad!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Medic? We don’t need no steenking Medic!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2127980_perform-a-tracheotomy.html

You first! :O

[Diana in Wisconsin]

:)

[Malsua]

A real man would have used a keyhole saw or a DA grinder.

A real man would use a chainsaw.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

C’mon, enough with the jokes!

Um, I'm guessing that that wasn't directed to me specifically, since I actually was admiring the man's courage and ingenuity rather than making jokes. :)

[JRios1968]

A real man would have used a keyhole saw or a DA grinder.

A real man would use a chainsaw.

"Amateurs...that's what bubble gum wrappers and timing belts are for..."

[robomatik]

re: post 15. thanks

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Speaking of MacGyver, they’re making a MacGyver movie soon.

[MrLee]

I wonder why his throat had swollen shut?

[JRios1968]

Speaking of MacGyver, they’re making a MacGyver movie soon.

Using duct tape and coffee grounds...

[JRios1968]

I wonder why his throat had swollen shut?

[mad_as_he$$]

Dude......

[Kimmers]

eeeeeeeeeeew

[Kimmers]

Just below the adams apple is a soft spot, aim for the the middle of the soft and good luck

Don’t forget to breath !

[WorkingClassFilth]

I had a full-blown anaphalactic reaction once from ingesting raw bee pollen. I was alone and started preparations for the same outcome with my Swiss army knife.

Fortuanately, I was spared to post on FR.

[Frank Sheed]

I respect your military service...I really do. Your taste in humor is pretty despicable, however. You can’t let the dead rest in peace?

The late Pope John Paul II never harmed you or anyone else. He even forgave the man who tried to kill him when the perpetrator was in prison. He also died a slow death from Parkinson’s Disease. Have you ever seen anyone with Parkinson’s—terminal Parkinson’s? Their features freeze as in the photo you showed. Not humorous to me.

Semper Fi,
Frank

[Frank Sheed]

http://www.tracheostomy.com/resources/surgery/emergency.htm

This is how I’d do it in an emergency.

[JRios1968]

[cmsgop]

Thanks for the Info, Gonna try now.......

[melt]

LOL!

Or if he offers you a "Slice" soft drink.

[Girlene]

WOW.

[Kimmers]

Hey, glad I can help you......I have a suggestion, this is one procedure you really should not practice.....