A Metro Nashville police officer is being called a hero after his quick actions saved the life of a choking nine-month-old boy.
Officer Philip Claiborne was responding to a car accident at a gas station on Tuesday night when another car drove up to his partner. Two women exited the car with a baby, and the mother began begging officers to save her baby, according to News Channel 5.
"The mom rushed over to me and handed the baby to me and I took it and my training kind of kicked in," Officer Claiborne said. "At the Academy, we are taught the Heimlich and CPR for both adults and babies and I could hear that the baby was gasping for air and not really breathing and wasn't making any kind noises other than that."
Officer Claiborne described the swift actions he took to save the baby's life.
"I knelt down and turned the baby over and kind of palmed its chest in my hand and rested my hand on my leg," he said. "I gave the baby one good smack on its back and immediately the baby started coughing and crying."
As a new father himself, he was pleased to help the mother and her child. To help prevent situations like this, or worse, he encourages all parents to learn CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.
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