▲ Firefighters from the Hoengseong Ucheon 119 Safety Center performing emergency aid
Off-duty firefighters who were undergoing training successfully rescued a young child who was choking on a piece of candy by providing prompt emergency aid.
According to the Hoengseong Fire Station in Gangwon Province on June 18, firefighters from the Ucheon 119 Safety Center were drinking coffee in front of a convenience store in Yongdun-ri, Ucheon-myeon, Hoengseong-gun, around 2:00 p.m. that day when they spotted a child, estimated to be 2 or 3 years old, showing signs of airway obstruction.
Given that the child was gasping for air while clutching a piece of candy in one hand, it was clear that the candy had become lodged in the child's throat.
After assessing the child's condition, a firefighter identified as Fire Lieutenant Shin immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, while another, Fire Inspector Yoo, supported the child to ensure the procedure could be carried out safely.
The Heimlich maneuver is an emergency technique used when an airway is blocked by a foreign object. For infants and toddlers, it involves holding the child face-down to deliver back blows or performing chest thrusts to dislodge the object.
After one minute of performing the maneuver, the candy was dislodged from the child's mouth, and the child was safely returned to their parents' arms before heading home.
At the time, Fire Lieutenant Shin and nine other center staff members had just finished a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) training session on their day off when they witnessed the situation and stepped in to help.
The child's parents reportedly expressed their deep gratitude to the firefighters repeatedly.
Fire Inspector Yoo and Fire Lieutenant Shin stated, "We did what we were supposed to do as firefighters," adding, "As fathers ourselves, it is even more meaningful to have been able to save a child in danger."
(Photo: Courtesy of Hoengseong Fire Station, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.