Sergeant Phillip Waller with the Polk County Sheriff's Office
Life and Death Situation, Seconds Ticking, Sergeant Phillip Waller Takes Action, LIVINGSTON, May 14, 2016 - Sheriff Hammack would like to recognize and thank Detective Sgt. Phillip Waller for his heroic efforts in saving the life of a small child.
On May 14, 2016 around 5:30 pm the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a frantic mother advising her 7 year old son was choking, not breathing and blood was coming out of his mouth. She was on the shoulder of US Highway 59 bypass, in front of Acres RV. Deputies along with Livingston Police Department were notified. Sgt. Jason Paske and Deputy Jacob Hopper responded to the scene while dispatch stayed on the phone with the mother and notified EMS. Detective Sgt. Phillip Waller was passing the scene and was flagged down by the mother desperately seeking help for her son. Sergeant Waller reverted to CPR training and immediately began his assessment of the child to determine why he was not breathing. He could feel an object in the child’s throat and attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver to no avail. By massaging the neck, Sgt. Waller was able to dislodge the object and retrieve it from the child’s throat. The object, a small blue ball was causing the obstruction. The child was now able to breathe. Americare Ambulance Service arrived on scene and transported the child to the CHI St. Luke’s Hospital Emergency Roomwhere he is said to be ok. With a positive outcome; the child appeared to be recovering from shock, he calmly motioned to Sgt. Waller wanting his ball which Sgt. Waller declined to give it back.
Sgt. Waller credits his abilities to proper training and experience but more importantly “Thanks God for allowing him to be in the right place at that exact moment.” The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is proud of Sgt. Waller and recognizes him as a HERO!!!!!!
This small blue ball was dislodged from the child's throat by Sergeant Phillip Waller.
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