Oakland County Deputies, Firefighters Save 10-Month-Old Infant

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — A 10-month-old infant is alive Tuesday due in part to the actions of deputies and firefighters in Oakland County, who officials said saved the child after it began choking on possible drug paraphernalia.

“Watching the dashcam footage of our deputies and firefighters working hand-in-hand together to save the life of an innocent 10-month-old child demonstrates the heart and soul of our first responders,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said. “I am incredibly proud of these heroes for relying on their instincts and training during this very stressful moment and I commend them for their quick-thinking and partnership.”

The sheriff's office said that on Sept. 28, deputies were called to the 100 block of Parkdale Avenue in Pontiac following a 911 call regarding a 10-month-old infant who was unconscious and not breathing.

Deputies arrived to the scene along with the Waterford Regional Fire Department and crews began CPR on the child, deputies said.

Crews decided to take the child to McLaren Oakland Hospital nearly immediately instead of waiting for EMS to arrive, officials said, citing the child's condition.

Two Waterford Regional firefighters loaded the child into the backseat of a patrol car and continued to perform CPR while a deputy drove to the hospital, officials said.

Other deputies assisted with traffic, clearing a path for the patrol car to get to the hospital quickly, officials said. The child was resuscitated due to the CPR efforts, officials said.

Following up on the incident, Oakland County Sheriff's detectives interviewed doctors and later said the child had choked on something and went into cardiac arrest. Follow-up interviews with the child's parents suggested it was possible the victim found drug paraphernalia in a trash can and ingested it, deputies said.

Detectives are continuing their investigation and Children's Protective Services has been notified, deputies said.