N.J. firefighters save infant girl from choking

Paterson firefighters saved the life of an infant who was brought into fire headquarters choking this week, fire department officials said.
A frantic mother rushed into the Paterson Fire Headquarters on McBride Avenue at around 8:50 a.m. Tuesday with her 4-month-old daughter, who was choking and turning blue, according to the department’s Facebook post.
The mother banged on the window and Fire Marshal Pedro Cartagena, a certified EMT and CPR instructor, “quickly took the baby and began performing life-saving back blows,” the post said.
“After several attempts, the obstruction in the baby’s airway was successfully cleared, and her color began returning to normal,” the post said.
Other firefighters stationed in the same firehouse also arrived to check on the baby and monitor her breathing, confirming her airway was clear, officials said.
The baby’s mother, Carolina Paula, said the infant, named Rihanye, was choking on liquid medicine, according to an ABC7 report. Paula ran to the fire station to get help.
“I kind of blacked out after I saw you guys,” Paula said of the firefighters, according to the ABC7 report. “I felt safe.”
Cartagena was credited with helping the baby, along with firefighters Kenneth Hicks and Mike Oates.
“Their professionalism and dedication embody the highest standards of the Paterson Fire Department,” the fire department’s post said. “We are incredibly proud of our members, who turned a life-threatening moment into one filled with gratitude and relief.”
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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at [email protected].