Two NYPD officers are being celebrated for their heroic actions after saving a 10-month-old baby boy who had stopped breathing in his home in the Queens earlier this month.
On October 10 at around 4:40 p.m., officers answered a 911 call that reported a baby choking. Upon arriving at the house, they found the baby, Makai Laboy, unresponsive due to an obstruction in his airway. The officers immediately began performing back pats to dislodge the blockage which resulted in successfully helping Makai breathe again. Body camera footage was released by the NYPD, and it shows the officers’ fast actions worked to save the child’s life.
Makai’s mother, Azia Rodriguez, had been watching over her son on a baby camera after laying him down for a nap when she noticed him tossing and turning. When she went to him, she found him vomiting and struggling to breathe. After patting his back to clear his airway, Makai was able to breathe normally for a short period of time before choking again. Rodriguez immediately called 911 which led to the officers’ arrival and intervention.
The officers’ actions were made possible by their training in CPR and first aid which is a requirement for all NYPD officers.
Makai’s father, Brandon Laboy, expressed profound gratitude, stating, “It’s just incredible with the right training and what they’re doing, they saved his life. In those moments you can’t understate how good the training that they had is. So, it’s an awesome thing to see.”
The family is now preparing to celebrate Makai’s first birthday on November 12 which is a milestone they feared they might not reach without the officers’ help. Rodriguez plans to personally thank the officers, saying, “Oh, I would thank them. I would hug them. I would not let them go.”
This incident emphasizes the importance of first responder training and the life-saving impact of quick action in emergency situations.
