United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Daniel Bokovza had just finished his Shabbat meal with his family when he was alerted by dispatch to a medical emergency. An infant was choking on a street nearby. Immediately, Daniel ran outside to his ambucycle and whisked off to the address of the incident. He was the first responder to arrive and was met by terrified young parents. Their one-year-old baby’s face was shockingly blue and the baby was wheezing heavily as he struggled to breathe.
Daniel took the small baby in his hands and expertly performed the Heimlich maneuver. The obstruction didn’t budge and Daniel attempted again as he called dispatch requesting an intensive care ambulance to the address. Determined to dislodge the item lodged in the baby’s throat, Daniel continued with his efforts but still could not get the obstruction out.
An ambulance had arrived with only a driver. Daniel jumped aboard the ambulance with the baby in his hands to facilitate immediate transport to the hospital. Throughout the ride to the hospital, Daniel worked feverishly on the baby. Just as they were entering the ER the baby stopped breathing completely and lost consciousness. Daniel swung into full-blown CPR, keeping the baby alive as they rushed into the trauma unit at Assuta Hospital. Doctors took the baby from Daniel and used a laryngoscope to identify the object blocking the baby’s airway. The doctors then proceed to use medical forceps to safely extract a marble that was lodged in the baby’s throat.
After a tense moment, the bay began to cry and returned to full consciousness. “The sound of the baby’s cry was the sweetest thing in the world at that moment,” said Daniel. “Looking at the little baby boy, so vibrant and alive, I couldn’t believe how close this boy had been to death.”
Daniel returned home exhilarated and emotional by the knowledge that he had helped save this baby’s life.
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