Officers in San Bernardino County, California, successfully saved a 3-year-old boy who had choked on vomit and was not breathing. The incident occurred on August 5 around 12:10 p.m. when the child's mother realized he was in distress while she was driving.
She pulled her vehicle over near the 300 block of East Foothill Boulevard and called 911. When officers from the Rialto Police Department arrived, they found the mother on the sidewalk holding her unresponsive son. One officer immediately retrieved a LifeVac device from his patrol car and attempted to clear the obstruction from the child's airway.
Body camera footage captured the officers placing the child on the sidewalk and using the LifeVac device to create suction, dislodging the object. After several attempts, the boy began to breathe and regained consciousness. "I felt my son was dying on me," the child's mother stated, recalling the harrowing experience.
The child was transported by the Rialto Fire Department to a local hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment. Later, in a hospital setting, the mother expressed her gratitude to the officers for their life-saving intervention.
Rialto PD Captain Lamont Quarker highlighted the importance of equipping first responders with critical medical tools and providing them with the necessary training to handle emergencies effectively. "This incident highlights the importance of equipping first responders with lifesaving tools and providing officers with the training necessary to respond effectively during critical medical emergencies," Quarker said.