South Carolina Officer Saves Infant's Life

Jan. 29, 2011
A Spartanburg Public Safety Officer is credited with saving a 1-month-old baby's life.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. --

Someone at Prince Hall Apartments in Spartanburg called 9-1-1 Sunday afternoon about a neighbor's infant in distress.

When Officer Scott Eckhardt arrived, he said a young man handed him a 1-month-old boy.

"He was not breathing, was limp. The eyes weren't focusing. He was actually turning a little bit towards the side of blue," Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt said he made sure an ambulance was on the way, but he said there was no time to waste.

He delicately performed infant CPR.

"We had to turn the child upside down on his stomach, and I placed the child on my forearm with his head in my hand and we applied pressure to his back and massaged his back until the child was able to take a deep breath," Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt said Public Safety Officers are encouraged to take infant CPR training.

"It was three years ago that I took the class and it's something that I never thought in a million years I'd be using," Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt said he's no hero. He said he was just doing his job.

"It really makes your heart very happy when something like that happens and you're able to help out. I like doing this job because I can help out. I get to help out where I'm most needed," Eckhardt said.

Eckhardt still does not know what blocked the little boy's airway. He said the baby was taken to Spartanburg Regional Hospital where, at last check, he was doing just fine.

Eckhardt suggests that new parents consider taking infant CPR classes.

News 4 was unable to contact the father of the infant.

Copyright 2011 by WYFF4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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