Why is CPR Training so Important?

TRENTON, N.J. - A mounted Trenton police officer rushed to a New Jersey day care center on horseback and saved a choking child's life last week. People in Trenton are calling him the "hero on a horse."

This is a story about a rambunctious 11-month-old little girl named Nevaeh, one very big horse called Bandit, and one well-trained Trenton Police Officer John Harbourt who was in the right place at the right time to save Nevaeh from choking.

According to a police report, people were screaming frantically when Officer Harbourt and Bandit rode to the rescue from two blocks away. Bystanders were trying to clear Nevaeh's airway, but were unsuccessful before the officer, who is a well-trained EMS technician and is also certified in CPR, took control of the situation, police said. Harbourt immediately picked up Nevaeh, of Morrisville, Pa., used the heel of his hand to perform lifesaving techniques and dislodged a sizeable carrot chunk from the baby's throat.

"Fortunately enough for the both of us all I really had to do was rotate her face down and give her a quick blow between the shoulders and out came the piece of carrot that I think was a little bit bigger than we all expected it to be," Harbourt said.

Nevaeh immediately started breathing on her own but was still rushed to Capital Health System at Mercer Hospital for further treatment.

"Per the mom's description, Officer Harbourt grabbed the child by the sides of the chest, squeezed, and a piece of carrot came shooting out of the child's mouth."

MSNBC / WCAU Channel 10 - 11/25/07

New Services

As of the beginning of 2008, we will be offering 24 on-call service allowing lay-rescuers to reach a Safety Officer after hours. This service is to assist people in how to respond, following an incident. Our team will be able to assist you over the phone in how to handle incidents involving Infection Control, AED Deployment and Workplace Violence. This service is intended to be used after 911 has cleared the scene and equipment restoration and incident documentation are required. We also will be adding a consulting service that will assist your agency with all of its safety needs.