Responders Save Life Of Choking Infant In Melville

First responders helped save the life of an 11-month-old girl who choked on a grape on Friday night in Melville.

The Melville Rescue Squad responded to a call for an infant choking on Cold Springs Road at 8:44 p.m. They arrived to find the family outside holding the baby girl who was blue, unconscious and not breathing.

The father handed the baby over to responder Dr. David Kugler, who began resuscitation efforts. He administered Heimlich Maneuver back blows and chest thrusts, attempting to clear the child's obstructed airway.

The child was brought into the ambulance, and Kugler and EMT Sue Rao suctioned the child's airway and removed the grape while providing supplemental oxygen. The child then began to cough and breathe.

The baby was then hooked up to a cardiac monitor by paramedic Brian Johnson, who continued to stimulate her to encourage spontaneous breathing and maintaining an airway.

She was then taken to Huntington Hospital. The baby was sitting up, awake and crying by the time she arrived at the emergency room.

Melville Engine 2-5-8 also responded to assist, chauffeured by Ex-Chief Bob Reiser, officer Captain Pete Doran and Firefighters Nate Byrd, Tyler Silvestri and Dave Schneider. Firefighter Schneider drove the ambulance to the hospital, as the crew continued their lifesaving efforts, according to PIO Steve Silverman.

Photo by Steve Silverman. Caption: Melville Rescue Squad EMT Sue Rao, Melville Firefighter Dave Schneider, and Melville Firefighter EMS Dr. David Kugler.