PATERSON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — A New Jersey firefighter saved the life of a 4-month-old baby girl on Tuesday after her mother frantically rushed to his station to find help for her choking infant.
At about 8:50 a.m., the child’s mother arrived at the Paterson Fire Department headquarters at 300 McBride Ave. with the baby, who was choking and turning blue, fire officials said.
Desperate for help, the woman banged on the Fire Prevention Bureau window, and got the attention of Fire Marshal Pedro Cartagena who “immediately sprang into action.”
Cartagena, who is a certified EMT and CPR instructor, took the baby and started performing life-saving back blows, officials said. He was able to successfully clear the obstruction in the baby’s airway, and her color began to return to normal.
The rescue was assisted by the department’s EMS 7, staffed by firefighters Kenneth Hicks and Mike Oates who were stationed at the same firehouse. They confirmed that the baby’s airway was clear and helped monitor her breathing.
“This harrowing incident could have ended in tragedy if not for the swift, skilled, and selfless actions of Fire Marshal Cartagena, FF Hicks, and FF Oates,” the Paterson Fire Department said in a social media post about the rescue. “Their professionalism and dedication embody the highest standards of the Paterson Fire Department.”
The infant’s parents planned a follow-up with the girl’s pediatrician, fire officials said.
“We are incredibly proud of our members, who turned a life-threatening moment into one filled with gratitude and relief,” the department said.