Schaumburg police officers save choking toddler’s life

Two Schaumburg police officers are being credited with saving the life of a 19-month-old girl who was choking on the side of the road last week in the northwest suburb.

Officers Bryan Poradzisz and Kevin O’Connor were called to Higgins Road near Route 53 about 8:50 p.m. Thursday for a toddler in respiratory distress, according to Schaumburg police.

The infant was in the car with her grandmother heading home to Chicago after spending the afternoon in Schaumburg, police said. The child appeared to stop breathing and her grandmother pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, took her out of her car seat and called 911.

Officer Poradzisz arrived moments later and found the girl unresponsive, not breathing and with blue lips. He administered the Heimlich maneuver, followed by CPR. Officer O’Connor arrived moments later and performed a finger sweep of the infant’s mouth.

Almost immediately, the infant began breathing on her own and regained consciousness. The officers comforted the girl until paramedics arrived and took over.

Police said it is still not yet known what caused the infant to choke, but she appears to have made a full recovery.

“The Schaumburg Police Department commends Officer Poradzisz and Officer O’Connor for their outstanding work,” the statement said.