HARRISON TOWNSHIP, NJ - An ordinary drive with her grandson quickly turned into a life or death situation for a New Jersey grandmother. The difference between life and death was a police officer and two emergency medical technicians.
"Harrison Township police officer and two Gloucester County EMTs are being hailed as heroes for their quick actions in saving the life of a toddler who was choking. Hear from the first responders who saved the child," tweeted Brandon Golder.
According to CBS Philadelphia, Maureen O'Laughlin was driving with her almost two-year-old grandson, Oliver.
"We were singing and driving and all of a sudden, Oliver stopped singing," O'Laughlin said. "I was like, 'Oliver! Oliver! Why aren't you singing?'"
Oliver had stopped singing because he was choking on a cracker he had been eating. O'Laughlin immediately stopped the car to check on him. When she realized what was happening, she began working on getting him unbuckled from his car seat.
At that same time, a Harrison Township police cruiser pulled up behind the frantic woman.
Corporal Kevin McGowan was driving that cruiser.
"I've been doing this for 11 years, and sometimes you just get those hairs that stand up on the back of your neck," Cpl. McGowan told the CBS affiliate. "This was just something that I knew I needed to check on."
He immediately began assisting in removing the boy from the car.
As it turns out, O'Laughlin had pulled over in front of a Gloucester County EMS station.
Two of the EMTs that were in the station, Jenine Ellena and Richard Kennedy, heard O'Laughlin's cries and came out to see what was happening.
"This was something that we didn't have time to do," Ellena said. "We had to act."
Between McGown, Ellena and Kennedy, they were able to dislodge the cracker by doing back blows and abdominal thrusts, restoring the airway and rescuing Oliver from choking to death.
"They are heroes, and I am so very, very grateful," O'Laughlin said. "They will forever be in my heart."
While Oliver, who is home resting and will be just fine, will likely not remember much of this incident, his family will forever be grateful for the three people who showed up to save the day.
"[Oliver] is vibrant and wonderful," O'Laughlin said. "We couldn't be happier about all the people that come together and helped save him."
The mindset of O'Laughlin is the sentiment of most American's. Our emergency responder community is full of people who do heroic things every day. Instead of sharing those stories, the mainstream media chooses to vilify them, especially our law enforcement professionals.
"Harrison Township police officer and two Gloucester County EMTs are being hailed as heroes for their quick actions in saving the life of a toddler who was choking. Hear from the first responders who saved the child," tweeted Brandon Golder.
According to CBS Philadelphia, Maureen O'Laughlin was driving with her almost two-year-old grandson, Oliver.
"We were singing and driving and all of a sudden, Oliver stopped singing," O'Laughlin said. "I was like, 'Oliver! Oliver! Why aren't you singing?'"
Oliver had stopped singing because he was choking on a cracker he had been eating. O'Laughlin immediately stopped the car to check on him. When she realized what was happening, she began working on getting him unbuckled from his car seat.
At that same time, a Harrison Township police cruiser pulled up behind the frantic woman.
Corporal Kevin McGowan was driving that cruiser.
"I've been doing this for 11 years, and sometimes you just get those hairs that stand up on the back of your neck," Cpl. McGowan told the CBS affiliate. "This was just something that I knew I needed to check on."
He immediately began assisting in removing the boy from the car.
As it turns out, O'Laughlin had pulled over in front of a Gloucester County EMS station.
Two of the EMTs that were in the station, Jenine Ellena and Richard Kennedy, heard O'Laughlin's cries and came out to see what was happening.
"This was something that we didn't have time to do," Ellena said. "We had to act."
Between McGown, Ellena and Kennedy, they were able to dislodge the cracker by doing back blows and abdominal thrusts, restoring the airway and rescuing Oliver from choking to death.
"They are heroes, and I am so very, very grateful," O'Laughlin said. "They will forever be in my heart."
While Oliver, who is home resting and will be just fine, will likely not remember much of this incident, his family will forever be grateful for the three people who showed up to save the day.
"[Oliver] is vibrant and wonderful," O'Laughlin said. "We couldn't be happier about all the people that come together and helped save him."
The mindset of O'Laughlin is the sentiment of most American's. Our emergency responder community is full of people who do heroic things every day. Instead of sharing those stories, the mainstream media chooses to vilify them, especially our law enforcement professionals.
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