CBS 2 Chicago report with DASHCAM video.
Schaumburg police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 8:47 PM Thursday, March 10, 2016 to a report of a child in distress and possibly choking in a vehicle near the intersection of Higgins Road and Martingale Road Schaumburg, IL. Police and firefighter/paramedics received a report of a possible complete obstruction of a child’s airway. At approximately 8:50 P.M., Schaumburg Police Officers Bryan Poradzisz and Kevin O’Connor arrived at the location near Higgins Road and IL Route 53. The child, a 19-month old girl, was in the car with her grandmother heading home to Chicago after spending the afternoon in Schaumburg. The child appeared to stop breathing, so her grandmother pulled the vehicle to the side of the road.
The child’s grandmother took the girl out of her car seat and called 9-1-1 when she was unable to help the girl begin breathing again. Ofc. Poradzisz arrived moments later and found the child unresponsive, not breathing, and her lips were blue. Ofc. Poradzisz immediately rendered aid by administering the Heimlich maneuver, followed by CPR. Ofc. O’Connor, who arrived just after Ofc. Poradzisz, performed a finger sweep of the child’s mouth and cleared vomit and mucous
that Ofc. Poradzisz was able to dislodge from the child’s airway. Almost immediately, the child began breathing on her own again and regained consciousness. Ofc. Poradzisz and Ofc. O’Connor comforted the child until paramedics arrived and took over medical treatment. The young patient was transported to a local hospital.
At this time it is unknown what caused the child to aspirate, but we have learned that she appears to have made a full recovery.
Schaumburg police praised the officers and reported the incident highlights the dedication, talent, and focused calm under pressure displayed by the fine men and women in law enforcement each and every day. The Schaumburg Police Department commends Officer Poradzisz and Officer O’Connor for their outstanding work.
PARAMEDIC UNITS ASSIGNED …
Ambulance 52, Engine 52
Stay informed with news from The Cardinal’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album — go direct to the Arlington Cardinal Emergencies Behind the Scenes photos. For a list of all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages, go to Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …