Training in Action: Cintas Employee-Partner Saves Boyfriend from Choking

As Brianna Gervers celebrated her boyfriend’s birthday, her Cintas training and quick action ensured it wasn’t his last.

“It was very scary,” said Gervers.

Gervers, a Cintas First Aid & Safety Management Trainee (MT), and her boyfriend were out to dinner when she realized he was struggling after taking a bite of steak. She asked him if he was choking and he nodded yes. The two stood up and Gervers tried giving him back blows. When that didn’t work, she started the Heimlich maneuver, a first-aid method for choking.

Gervers said their height difference made things challenging. He’s 6’4”. She’s 5’7”.

“It was really, really difficult because he's so much bigger than me,” said Gervers.

Nevertheless, after about 30 seconds, she was able to dislodge the steak.

“It was all kind of a blur. It all just happened really fast,” said Gervers.

While the specifics of that night might be fuzzy now, Gervers’ training in that moment was extremely clear. She was in her Training and Compliance rotation at the time, so she was teaching the First Aid & Safety classes Cintas offers its customers. Additionally, just a month prior, her boyfriend had taken a CPR and AED class through Cintas as part of the company’s recognition of the American Heart Association’s Heart Month.

“I feel like without that training, it could have turned out very differently,” said Gervers.

This experience has given her an even greater sense of gratitude for the work Cintas does to keep customers and communities safe.

“Just knowing what to do makes all the difference and I just really hope people understand how important these skills are,” said Gervers.

Her quick thinking is a powerful reminder that the right training can make all the difference in critical moments. Every day, Cintas helps equip customers and communities with the skills and confidence to respond when it matters most.