El Monte Police Officer's Swift Action Saves 8-Year-Old Boy from Choking

An El Monte, California police officer used a specialized LifeVac device to save an 8-year-old boy's life after he choked on a piece of candy. The officer's quick thinking and use of the device helped dislodge the candy and open up the boy's airway.

An El Monte, California police officer's quick thinking and use of a specialized LifeVac device saved an 8-year-old boy's life after he choked on a piece of candy.

Officer Raul Vega was the first officer on the scene after receiving a call that an 8-year-old boy was unconscious after choking on a piece of candy.

Vanessa Becerra-Aguayo, the boy's mother, said she is "very thankful" police responded to her son Ethan’s medical emergency after she, along with neighbors, were trying to do everything they could to revive him.

"I just saw him purple, he was already unconscious, so ... neighbors and I were trying to do compressions on his chest, breathe through his mouth, but nothing seemed to be working," she recalled.

"He was unable to talk to me, so he was unconscious the whole time until the police arrived."

Vega said the young boy was "unresponsive" when he arrived on the scene, and he knew he needed "attention quickly," so he pulled out his LifeVac, a portable, airway clearance device used on both adults and children.

"It's an anti-choking, rescue device," Vega said. "It's basically like a plunger, like a foam plunger, and you place the device over the person's mouth, and you press to get, you know, suction in and while you're holding it down, you pull it up, and that allows the object to become dislodged and the airway to open up."

After two tries, the candy came out of Ethan’s throat, and he later woke up in the ambulance.

Vega said he had great partners with him while he responded to the incident.

Ethan's mother, still shaken over the incident, is overjoyed.

"From the moment where we were trying and I heard one other dad say he wasn't breathing, I lost it," his mother told Fox News. "So, as soon as I noticed that they were able to pull it out and they had … the candy, I felt some type of relief. I was still worried, thinking if he was going to come back himself, but he was OK after that."

Vega's quick thinking and use of the LifeVac device saved Ethan's life. He is a hero to Ethan and his family, and his actions demonstrate the importance of police officers being trained in life-saving techniques.

The LifeVac device is a valuable tool for police officers and other first responders. It is easy to use and can be used to save lives in a variety of situations, including choking on food, toys, or other objects.

If you are a police officer or other first responder, I urge you to get trained in the use of the LifeVac device. It could save a life.