FAIRVIEW, Pa. – A Border Patrol agent from the Erie Station used first responder training he received from the U.S. Border Patrol to rescue a choking child at a local restaurant in Erie, Pa. on Sept. 23.
At approximately 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, an agent stopped by a local restaurant for dinner when he noticed a young child in distress and a woman attempting to render aid. Approaching the group, the agent recognized the child was having difficulty breathing and appeared to be choking. Using his training, the agent performed the Heimlich maneuver on the child, which successfully dislodged a foreign object that was blocking the child’s airway allowing him to begin to breathe normally.
After monitoring the three year old boy’s condition for a short period of time, there appeared to be no lasting ill effects from the incident. The agent recommended to the father that the child be thoroughly examined by medical professionals to rule out any possible complications due to the incident.
Often times, in the course of their daily duties agents are the first on scene to emergency situations. On a regular basis agents receive extensive training to ensure they are fully prepared to effectively respond to a multitude of high stress scenarios. The comprehensive training provided by the U.S. Border Patrol makes agents capable of reacting to any crisis, not only those that require a law enforcement response.
Border Patrol agents have taken an oath to protect Americans from all threats, and this is a prime example of an agent assisting someone in need and keeping that promise.