Police officers save young boy from choking on piece of candy

El Monte police officers used a newly purchased lifesaving device to rescue an 8-year-old boy from choking to death.

In April, the El Monte Police Department bought 200 LifeVacs, a portable airway-clearing device, and this incident marked the first time any officer used it. 

It happened on June 3, when 8-year-old Ethan Cante started choking on a piece of candy. Officer Raul Vega was the first officer on the scene and found Cante unconscious. 

"It was frantic, a lot of people trying to get us to help," Vega said. 

Soon after, Officer Dennis Chiu arrived and handed his partner a LifeVac to clear the boy's airway, saving his life right as paramedics arrived. 

"Luckily, with my partners and the training that we had, we were able to get [the candy] out," Vega said. "Our police department supplied 200 of these to our patrol officers and to city employees, and this is a lifesaver. For $60 to $70, this is going to save someone's life."    

The LifeVac works like a plunger, using suction to dislodge materials from the patient's airways. 

"I am proud of our officers who were able to utilize the device and save the life of a child in a matter of seconds," El Monte Police Chief Jake Fisher said. "By equipping our officers with LifeVac we are taking a crucial step in improving our emergency response capabilities."

El Monte and the El Monte Police Department will present Vega, Chiu and another officer, Corporal Carlos Tello, with a Life Saving Award for their work to save Cante. 

"I hope this story spreads how great his life-saving tool can become available to anyone, just like an AED device or Narcan," Vegas said.

Dispatchers Veronica Chacon and Sandra Gonzalez will also be recognized for their work during the incident.