On Saturday in Calvert County, two Maryland State Police troopers sprinted into a home after a mother’s panicked cry, "my baby is choking," and helped clear an infant’s airway. Trooper First Class Taylor Hersh and Corporal Jonathan Soultzfus, both assigned to the Prince Frederick Barrack, are seen in body-worn video taking the child from the mother and delivering firm back blows and chest thrusts until he began breathing again. Seconds later, the footage captures the troopers confirming the boy was breathing.
The Maryland Department of State Police posted the video on X, and local coverage breaks down the tense sequence. FOX 5 DC reports that one trooper grabbed the infant from the mother’s arms and delivered several back blows until the obstruction cleared. The department publicly thanked the troopers on social media for "preventing what could have been yet another tragic outcome."
Inside the split-second save
On the body-worn clip, the mother can be heard shouting, "I need help, my baby is choking," as the two troopers run to the house and take the child. The Maryland Department of State Police shared the footage that shows one trooper delivering forceful back strikes and then confirming the infant was breathing. Emergency Medical Services evaluated the child on scene, according to the video and the department post.
Training and first aid that make the difference
When infants choke, medical guidance recommends alternating five firm back blows with five chest thrusts until the airway clears or the infant becomes unresponsive. The American Red Cross notes that pattern as the recommended first-aid response and urges caregivers to call 911 and seek formal training. Even when the obstruction clears, experts say successful field rescues typically warrant paramedic evaluation for lingering problems or injuries.
Part of a troubling trend of close calls
Troopers across the region have been credited with similar split-second saves in recent weeks. In February, an Elkton trooper cleared a choking infant during a traffic stop, a rescue Hoodline covered under the headline Elkton trooper ditches traffic stop. Those episodes underscore how routine patrol training can suddenly turn into life-saving medical care in the moments before EMS arrives.
The department praised Hersh and Soultzfus on X, writing that "their quick actions and training made all the difference," and called it a job well done. The child's condition beyond the initial on-scene check has not been publicly released, and the department asked that the family's privacy be respected. The clip stands as a reminder that small, fast moves and drilled-in training can avert tragedy in a matter of seconds.
