Sheriff's Deputies Credited With Saving The Life Of Compton Toddler
COMPTON (CBS) — Sheriff's deputies saved the life of an 18-month-old Compton boy Thursday by clearing the baby's airway so he could breathe.
Today, the boy's family and little Eduardo in tow, came to the Sheriff's station to offer their gratitude.
The rescue occurred just before 4 p.m. Thursday at an apartment in the 2000 block of East Alondra Boulevard, said Sgt. Peter Ramirez of the Compton sheriff's station.
"(The deputies) ran from their patrol car to a second-floor apartment and found the 18-month-old Hispanic infant surrounded by crying family members," Ramirez said. "The family members said the child had been sick and now could not breathe."
Ramirez said one deputy picked the child up and, after checking his airways, turned him over and struck his back to clear any possible obstruction in the child's throat. When the baby did not respond and continued to turn purple while struggling to breathe, the deputy struck the child's back again, clearing the obstruction.
"The child spit up what appeared to be mucus and began to cry," Ramirez said.
The boy was taken to a hospital for further observation.
(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
