Sometimes life works in a way that makes a person believe in miracles. For one baby, the miracle she needed came rushing to her aid with a set of skills that he had only just learned – exactly 10 minutes before the 9-1-1 call came in for a choking child.
Massachusetts police officer Robert Jaworski had just completed a CPR refresher course when he got a call about a 1-month-old infant who was choking at her grandparents’ home. Daniel Barnes and his wife were watching their granddaughter Savannah, when she began to choke on her formula. The baby quickly went blue in the face, and the panicked grandfather called for help.
“My wife was trying to pat her on the back to clear the airway, and thank God the ambulance and the cops showed up,” Barnes said. Responders from the police department and Winthrop Fire Department rushed to the house, but Jaworski was the first to arrive, officials said.
Officer Jaworski. Photo courtesy of Winthrop Police Department
“He turned the child over, faced the child down toward the floor, tilting; gave the child three back blows,” Winthrop police Chief Terence Delehanty said. “The third back blow, the child started crying, which is always a wonderful thing.”
Jaworski dislodged the formula from the infant’s throat, which allowed her to breathe again, authorities said. The baby and a parent were sent to Massachusetts General Hospital for a check-up after the incident, according to officials.
Officer Jaworski’s prompt response and application of back thrusts to the unresponsive infant were nothing short of extraordinary, and undoubtedly played a crucial role in ensuring the baby’s well-being,” said the police department in a press release.
“The professionalism, courage and skill shown by Officer Jaworski in a critical moment was truly commendable,” Chief Delehanty added. “Winthrop is incredibly fortunate to have dedicated and compassionate first responders like Officer Jaworski patrolling our streets and ensuring the safety of our residents.”
How to perform CPR on a baby
Choking is the fourth highest cause of unintentional death for children under 5, according to the New York Department of Health. Across the U.S., one child dies from choking on their food about every five days, the department said.
It’s important to know the steps of performing CPR on a child or infant, and the American Red Cross suggests enrolling in a child CPR class to learn more in-depth.
Before giving a baby CPR, the health organization recommends:
- Checking the child’s attention to see how responsive they are. If the child is a baby, the American Red Cross suggests shouting, then tapping the baby’s foot and shouting again if they don’t respond initially.
- Don’t spend more than 10 seconds checking a child’s attentiveness.
- Call 911 if a child is not responding, not breathing or gasping uncontrollably.
To perform CPR on a child, the American Red Cross says to:
- Put the child’s back against a “firm, flat surface” by kneeling next to them.
- Deliver 30 compressions.
- With older children, place the heel of one of your hands against the middle of their chest with the other on top. Then, start pushing “hard and fast” while allowing their chest to rise after each compression.
- For small children, use one hand for compressions.
- If giving CPR to a baby, put both thumbs together at the center of the baby’s chest and push.
- Give the child in need two breaths by blowing into their mouth for one second in a neutral position.
The American Red Cross recommends continuing to repeat the steps until you see an “obvious sign of life” or an automated external defibrillator can be used. Watch below for a look at this police officer and his heroic actions!
