FPS staff report
November 10, 2009
 “You can feel safe when you eat at Ponderosa,” stated Teresa Keane.
Keane can back up her words. She has helped three people who choked while dining at Ponderosa. The Carrollton native has been employed at Ponderosa for four years since returning after employment elsewhere. She is a waitress and a hot bar cook.
She said, “I remember the first one was an older gentleman. It’s was Mother’s Day and we were swamped. I was walking from the backroom carrying dishes to be washed when I saw he was choking.” Keane saw her supervisor attempting to help the man and immediately set her dishes down and ran to help. “He was a very tall man. We got him standing and on the third thrust the item was dislodged and he was able to breathe.” Employees had called 911 and when the ambulance arrived, the man was transported to the hospital to be sure he no swelling in his throat.
During one of Keane’s shifts, she saw a woman at the taco bar and realized she was choking. Keane immediately went to her and was able to dislodge the chip from the woman’s airway.
A few months ago, Keane was waitressing on the floor when five men sat at one of her tables. They each ordered steak dinners and had a wide variety of food on the table. Keane, who keeps an eye on her customers, noticed one man choking and she went into action. After helping the man, she said, “Everyone was coming up to me and telling me what a great job. I just broke down and started crying.”
While everyone has been extremely grateful, Keane explalined, “An adrenaline rush just kicks in. I can’t walk by someone who is choking.”
Ponderosa Manager Rodger Barto, who also helped a man choking, said, “Teresa does a good job. We are fortunate to have her.”
Keane was recently promoted to shift coordinator. |
