Robert Slade said that instead of walking his normal path across the Eastway Dining Hall during his shift one day, he abruptly took a different route, and that small decision put him in the right place to save a life.
Slade, a cook at ɫֱ’s Culinary Services who has been running the Choolaah station, used his quick thinking to assist a young visitor who began to choke in the cafeteria.
After 15 years of experience in the culinary industry, Slade said that his training prepared him to be ready for this moment. When he turned the corner, he witnessed a young girl choking and the frantic expression of the people that she was with. He calmly and quickly assessed the situation before performing the Heimlich maneuver.
Since joining ɫֱ’s Culinary Service team in 2022, Slade has consistently shown the ɫֱ community that his dedication to helping others matches his dedication to culinary excellence. His actions remind us of the importance of keeping a foundation of respect and kindness paramount in all we do.
Slade sat with the girl that day as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. He said the visitor was shaken up by the incident but thanked him for saving her during such a scary moment.
“That’s what we are always taught as soon as I stepped on the scene, always be mindful of your surroundings,” Slade told ɫֱ Today. "Always watch out and make sure students are okay.”
This isn’t the first time Slade’s quick thinking has helped someone in need. Another incident occurred in the Eastway Dining Hall where he assisted a student who passed out and hit their head. He applied pressure to his wound and kept the student calm while they waited for help. Before that, on vacation, he helped a fellow patron who was choking at a restaurant.
“I was just at the right place at the right time,” Slade added, thinking about these moments.
Slade’s extraordinary efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by the university either. The associate director of University Culinary Services, Laura Roach, said that Slade has consistently gone above and beyond in his role as a cook at Eastway.
“The quality of the food he presents at his station is outstanding, and his engagement with students, faculty and staff is exceptional,” Roach said. “Rob is a true team player in the kitchen, always aware of his surroundings and ready to assist when needed.”
“He has a bright smile, very bubbly, you’ll know him when you see him,” said one of his coworkers.
Slade said that he enjoys what he does at the university and loves seeing everyone around him smile.
“My favorite thing about being here is the different backgrounds and different people that I’m able to meet,” Slade said. “I love working with food. I take great pride in that and making sure that everyone is fed.”