SCOTT CO. – On Friday, November 29, Scott County Deputy Kyle West responded to a call for help from parents whose 2-year-old child was not breathing. Upon arriving, Deputy West found the distraught parents attempting to perform “back slaps and stomach thrusts” on their son, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
Without hesitation, Deputy West took over care of the child, utilizing a newly purchased life-saving tool, the LifeVac Suction Device, which the Scott County Sheriff’s Office had recently acquired. Using the device, Deputy West successfully dislodged a piece of chocolate and a fragment of a Christmas ornament that had been blocking the child’s airway, restoring his ability to breathe.
Scott County Emergency Services arrived shortly after and took over the child’s care, transporting him to Scott Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.
Deputy West shared his thoughts on the life-saving effort, saying, “It is extremely gratifying to save a life, especially a young child, and have the necessary equipment to do so within arm’s reach. I, and the parents of this child, are thankful I had the LifeVac Device with me to help their precious boy.”
Deputy West was assisted on the scene by personnel from Scott County EMS, Scottsburg Fire and Rescue, and the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
Deputy West’s quick actions and use of the LifeVac device were instrumental in saving the child’s life.
