Cinnaminson Police Officer Saves Choking Colleague's Life

CINNAMINSON, NJ — A Cinnaminson police officer recently saved his colleague's life.

Police Sgt. Garrett McLaverty was on break April 1 when he started choking on his meal. Officer Dominic Elly immediately recognized what was happening and sprung into action.

Elly performed the Heimlich maneuver on McLaverty, which dislodged the food particle from McLaverty's throat.

"Officer Dominic Elly will be awarded with the department's Lifesaving Award for his actions," Township Committee Member Ernest McGill said during May 19's committee meeting.

The Heimlich maneuver is a first-aid procedure used when a person is choking. Here's how to perform the maneuver, according to Cleveland Clinic:

1. Stand behind the person and put your arms around their belly (abdomen).
2. Make a fist with one hand and clasp your other hand tightly around it.
3. Place the thumb side of your fist just below their ribcage and about two inches above their belly button (navel).
4. Sharply and quickly thrust your hands inward and upward five times.
5. Repeat this process until you free (dislodge) the object stuck in their windpipe, or the person becomes unconscious. If the person becomes unconscious, start CPR.

Visit Cleveland Clinic's website for more info.