Arizona deputies saved a two-week-old baby who was choking after the infant’s parents called 911 for help in Yavapai County. According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the emergency unfolded when the newborn began struggling to breathe as the family drove toward Interstate 17 in search of assistance.
Deputies quickly responded to the 911 call around 3:30 p.m., locating the family’s vehicle on the side of the road. Bodycam footage released by the sheriff’s office shows deputies racing toward the car as the baby’s father rushed out holding his child. The father explained that he had been giving infant CPR, back blows, and sternum rubs for about 15 minutes, briefly getting the baby to cry, but the infant was still “breathing raggedly.”
A deputy immediately took over, performing small chest compressions and then, at another deputy’s suggestion, turned the baby over to deliver firm back slaps. This cleared saliva from the baby’s airway and prompted the infant to cry. For several tense minutes, the baby went limp and stopped crying multiple times, so the deputy continued efforts to keep the child breathing until firefighters and paramedics from the Mayer Fire Department arrived.
Once stabilized, the baby was transported to a hospital in Prescott Valley for oxygen treatment and later transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The sheriff’s office confirmed the child has fully recovered and is back home with family. Sheriff David Rhodes praised the deputies’ quick actions, stating, “This is the kind of call every parent dreads. Our deputies’ quick thinking, training, and teamwork made all the difference. We are incredibly relieved that the baby is doing well at home.”
Officials emphasized that the incident highlights the importance of CPR training for adults, children, and infants, noting that rapid intervention can save lives.
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