A boy who had lost consciousness and stopped breathing in a Michigan lake was saved by Officer Casey Deater, a policewoman from Michigan. The incident took place on July 19th in Brooks, Michigan. Officer Deater was on patrol in a church parking lot when she heard the dispatcher’s alert about a 4-year-old child who had been pulled face down from the water and was not breathing.
Upon arriving at the scene on 88th Street, she was informed that the boy was lying at the end of a nearby lake pier. Without hesitation, Officer Deater rushed to the pier with her AED device for CPR. She described the boy as unresponsive and not breathing when she arrived.
Having never performed CPR on a child before, Officer Deater was determined to do everything in her power to save him, setting aside her emotions to focus on the task at hand. She immediately began chest compressions and tried talking to the boy while his family members looked on. A woman present called 911, and together they worked to save the boy.
Officer Deater instructed the woman to tilt the boy’s head back for artificial respiration while she continued with chest compressions. Gradually, the boy began to show signs of response, spitting out water as Officer Deater worked to clear his airway.
She heard the boy make faint cries as she continued to provide aid. With the help of the fire department, the boy was lifted from the pier to the grass where he received oxygen. His cries grew louder as he regained consciousness, bringing relief to all involved.
Officer Deater attributed her successful rescue to the comprehensive CPR training she received at the police academy, emphasizing the importance of everyone knowing these life-saving skills. She highlighted the critical nature of quick response times in emergencies and stressed the value of being able to assist and provide support during such situations.
The following day, Officer Deater contacted the boy’s mother to check on his condition. He was taken to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital but has since been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery. The boy’s mother expressed deep gratitude to all the first responders who acted swiftly to save her son.
As Officer Deater recounted the positive outcome, she shared that the boy was doing well, happy, and even received a stuffed toy as a gift. This heartwarming rescue story serves as a reminder of the importance of timely intervention and the difference that proper training and quick thinking can make in emergency situations.