A Charles County, Md. Sheriff's K-9 officer is being lauded after he helped save the life of a newborn late last month.
Officer Darin Behm responded to the 400 block of Trefoil Place in Waldorf around 11:16 a.m. on July 31 after the mother of a 10-day-old girl called 911 and reported her daughter was not breathing.
Upon arrival, Behm was directed to an upstairs bedroom where he found a woman trying to help the baby breathe. The infant's face was red and she was in distress.
The officer took the baby, listened and did not see her chest rise and fall. He opened her mouth and saw formula inside.
Behm then tilted the baby's head and did a finger sweep to try to clear her airway, but was unsuccessful. He requested an aspirator from the residents, but there was not one in the house.
As the baby continued to strugle to get full breaths, Behm placed his mouth over the baby's nose and mouth and gently sucked until a large chunk of the formula – about the size of a dime with thick mucus – came out, clearing the infant's windpipe.
The baby’s chest began to rise and fall again and her breaths strengthened.
The infant named Dana was transported to Children’s Hospital as a precaution and was discharged several hours later.
The infant’s mother said she was extremely grateful to Behm who “took control in a hectic situation” and helped her infant daughter, a twin, breathe again.
Behm, who is the father of a two-year-old boy, said his only thought was to open the baby’s airway as quickly as possible.
"I'm glad I was able to help," he said. "It’s what we do."
