A Bronx mother and her baby were reunited with the NYPD officers who helped save the infant’s life after he began choking at home last weekend. <\/p>\n
Janibel Montano said she was cooking when she noticed her son Jheyler was choking and facedown in his crib. <\/p>\n
That’s when Montano frantically called for help and neighbors flagged down a passing NYPD patrol vehicle. <\/p>\n
The officers were on their way to another call before quickly jumping into action to help baby Jheyler.<\/p>\n
Officer Julio Arias responded and quickly helped get the infant to breathe again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I had felt something fall off and that’s when he started crying and started breathing again,” Arias said. <\/p>\n
It’s unclear what the child was choking on, but the intervention worked. The sound of Jheyler crying brought immediate relief to his family and the officers who responded.<\/p>\n
“It was a huge relief and a godsend,” Montano said in Spanish.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Officer Karolin Abreu Garcia, who responded alongside Arias, recalled the intense moments during the incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I felt like I was breathing again when I saw the baby crying. I noticed I wasn’t breathing either,” she said.<\/p>\n
The NYPD’s body-worn camera footage shows Arias delivering firm back blows between the baby’s shoulder blades while holding him facedown on his forearm, a technique used to help choking infants. <\/p>\n
The officers encouraged parents and caregivers to remain calm during emergencies and seek help immediately. <\/p>\n
“Try not to panic. At the end of the day, someone will know what’s going on and someone will help,” Arias said. <\/p>\n
Montano and Jheyler’s father called the officers heroes during the reunion at the 44th Precinct.<\/p>\n
Officers Arias and Garcia credited their emergency training for preparing them to act quickly.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Jheyler is set to celebrate his 11-month birthday on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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