In a heart-stopping incident captured on official body camera footage, two Maryland State Troopers raced against time to save a choking infant during a dramatic roadside emergency in Calvert County. The heroic actions of Troopers First Class Taylor Hersh and Corporal Jonathan Stoltzfus unfolded on Saturday afternoon, with the Maryland State Police Department hailing their quick response and training as instrumental in preventing a tragic outcome.
Frantic Call for Help
The tense situation began around 2pm in the quiet residential neighborhood of Lusby, where Hersh and Stoltzfus were working on a service call. Parked outside their undercover vehicles, the troopers were suddenly alerted by a mother's frantic voice from across the street. 'I need help, my baby is choking!' she cried out, rushing toward the officers with her infant in her arms.
Immediate Life-Saving Response
Without hesitation, one trooper immediately set down what he was holding on the hood of his SUV and raced across the road to reach the terrified mother. The second trooper followed closely behind as the mother tried to explain that her child was choking, though she noted the baby had only been drinking liquids. The body camera footage shows the trooper getting down on his knees, placing the baby belly-first on his leg, and beginning gentle back pats in an attempt to clear the airway.
'He's just throwing up,' the mother said as the troopers continued their desperate efforts. 'He's just spitting up some stuff.' Maintaining a calm rhythm, the trooper softly encouraged the infant: 'Come on buddy.'
Critical Moments and Relief
The first trooper then handed the infant to his partner while explaining he needed to retrieve a suction device from his vehicle. The second trooper held the baby and urgently checked for breathing. Moments later, the relief was audible as he confirmed: 'He's breathing.' The mother drew a huge sigh of relief as the immediate danger passed.
Police Praise and Training Recognition
Maryland State Police released the dramatic footage on social media platform X, praising the troopers for their decisive actions. 'Without hesitation, the troopers immediately began lifesaving measures and were able to clear the infant's airway,' state police said in an official statement. 'Their quick actions and training made all the difference, preventing what could have been yet another tragic outcome.'
The department added: 'Well done, TFC Hersh and Cpl. Stoltzfus! Job well done by Maryland's finest!' The incident highlights the critical importance of first responder training in emergency situations involving infants.
Recent Similar Rescue in Maryland
This dramatic rescue comes just one month after another Maryland State Trooper saved a choking infant during a separate incident. On February 15, Trooper Nicolas Warren was conducting a traffic stop in Cecil County when another vehicle pulled up with a driver shouting: 'We need help. My baby is choking.'
Warren immediately called for emergency medical services while performing life-saving first aid on the infant. 'I grew up in the fire department. I was a volunteer before I came to the state police, so I've had plenty of training,' Warren told local media. 'That was the first time that I've used that kind of training on an infant. You don't get too many calls on babies, so it was definitely a first for me.'
Training Pays Off in Critical Situations
Despite it being his first encounter with a choking infant, Warren remained calm and delivered back blows that successfully cleared the blockage within minutes. 'It happened so fast that your brain just clicks. So, I was very thankful for that training,' he explained. 'That's why you sign up to do this job. And, it's the most rewarding thing you can have, having a good outcome and something like that. That happened so fast and seconds count, so it was very, very rewarding.'
Both incidents demonstrate how proper training and quick thinking by law enforcement officers can mean the difference between life and death in emergency medical situations. The body camera footage from the Calvert County rescue provides a powerful visual record of the tense moments when every second counted, ultimately resulting in a positive outcome thanks to the troopers' professional response.
