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Chaska Police Officer Saves Life Of Choking Toddler

CHASKA (WCCO) -- A Chaska police officer saved a toddler who was choking on food and stopped breathing.

In the afternoon of Dec. 9, Officer Chris Pesheck was the first to arrive at a home after responding to an emergency call, according to Chaska Police.

When Pesheck arrived at the home, the distraught parent met the officer at the door with the 23-month-old child in their arms. Police said the parent handed the child, who was not breathing and turning blue, to Pesheck.

"In that moment, I didn't really know what I was doing, my training just kicked in and I went about doing what I was supposed to do," said Pesheck.

Pesheck could not find an airway obstruction so he delivered upper-back thrusts to the child. After several thrusts, a large piece of food came out of the child's mouth. The child then started breathing again.

"He started crying. Normally, it's a bad thing when your kids start crying, but this was a good thing," said Pesheck.

The child was transported to a nearby medical center and was released not long afterward.

Pesheck received a "letter of commendation" from Chaska Police Sgt. Joe Carlson on the day of this life-saving act.

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