County Western Singer Saves Drummer’s Life

September 1, 2006

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 Life Saving Hero, Pete Schlegel

Country Western singer, Pete Schlegel, famous for many songs including, “It Takes A Whole Lotta Liquor to Like Her,” saved his drummer, Rich Lininger’s life using the Heimlich Maneuver. Schlegel was performing a concert in Hagerstown, Maryland on August 11, 2006. After completing a sound check, Schlegel, his band, camera crew, video technicians, and audio technicians had dinner at a local restaurant. As Lininger laughed at a comment from the table, Schlegel recalls, “He sucked it [a piece of steak] down his throat. The piece of meat became lodged in the airway, obstructing airflow to the lungs.

Schlegel recalls the event clearly saying, “I was on the opposite end of the table. I looked down and saw my drummer stand up and [he] started bending over.” Schlegel recognized Lininger’s life was in danger. As Schlegel puts it, “He was gasping, unable to speak.” Keyboard player, Jeff King attempted the Heimlich maneuver but failed. Schlegel immediately sprang into action. Within seconds Schlegel was at his drummer’s side saying, “Let me try.” Schlegel delivered the famed life saving upward thrust just above the diaphragm causing the lodged piece of meat to catapult out of the victim’s airway. Schlegel recalls, “It just shot out and ironically he [Lininger] extended his hand and caught it.” Schlegel’s extensive Emergency Medical Services (EMS) experience as an EMS helicopter pilot and Ohio state trooper training saved the day for drummer, Rich Lininger.

Looking to our nation’s children, Schlegel fully supports Save A Life Foundation’s (SALF) efforts to provide life saving training nationwide, starting with children first. Schlegel applauds SALF’s training in saying he would like to see more corporate, mayors, and schools sponsoring SALF. When asked if he would recommend others to seek SALF’s training, Schlegel’s response was, “Most definitely.” Schlegel commends SALF’s teaching schoolchildren life saving skills saying, “I think it [SALF’s training] should be required curriculum in schools.” He continues, “That’s the place you learn the important things for life. And if this is not important, I don’t know what is.”