Heroic Act: SoCal Police Officer Saves Life of 7-Month-Old Girl Choking on Hair Clip
A dramatic scene unfolded in Orange, California, when a frantic mother called 911 to report that her 7-month-old baby was choking on a hair clip. Southern California police officer Corporal Greggory Cates was the first responder to arrive on the scene and quickly sprang into action.
According to Cates' account, he encountered the distraught mother running out of the house with the infant in her arms, stating that the baby was unable to breathe due to the hair clip lodged in its airway. As Cates took over, the mother's cries filled the air as he performed the Heimlich maneuver on the baby.
Miraculously, after a few moments of intense pressure, the baby let out a sigh of relief, signaling that it had taken its first breaths since choking. The emotional bodycam footage shows the baby's tiny chest rising and falling, giving Cates a sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
"It was a moment," Cates recalled in an interview. "Just a big deep breath. Just like, 'Thank God, OK, we're good, she's breathing.'" When asked about what ran through his mind during that moment, he admitted that the incident continues to replay in his memory.
The baby was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure and later reunited with Cates after he had received the Life Saving Medal from the City of Orange for his heroic actions. The parents expressed their gratitude towards Cates, stating that seeing him again brought them joy and relief.
While Cates downplayed the recognition he has received, it is clear that this heroic act has left a lasting impact on all parties involved. As a parent himself, Cates knows what it means to be in a situation where your child needs immediate help – and his quick thinking and training undoubtedly saved the life of this young infant.
A dramatic scene unfolded in Orange, California, when a frantic mother called 911 to report that her 7-month-old baby was choking on a hair clip. Southern California police officer Corporal Greggory Cates was the first responder to arrive on the scene and quickly sprang into action.
According to Cates' account, he encountered the distraught mother running out of the house with the infant in her arms, stating that the baby was unable to breathe due to the hair clip lodged in its airway. As Cates took over, the mother's cries filled the air as he performed the Heimlich maneuver on the baby.
Miraculously, after a few moments of intense pressure, the baby let out a sigh of relief, signaling that it had taken its first breaths since choking. The emotional bodycam footage shows the baby's tiny chest rising and falling, giving Cates a sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
"It was a moment," Cates recalled in an interview. "Just a big deep breath. Just like, 'Thank God, OK, we're good, she's breathing.'" When asked about what ran through his mind during that moment, he admitted that the incident continues to replay in his memory.
The baby was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure and later reunited with Cates after he had received the Life Saving Medal from the City of Orange for his heroic actions. The parents expressed their gratitude towards Cates, stating that seeing him again brought them joy and relief.
While Cates downplayed the recognition he has received, it is clear that this heroic act has left a lasting impact on all parties involved. As a parent himself, Cates knows what it means to be in a situation where your child needs immediate help – and his quick thinking and training undoubtedly saved the life of this young infant.
Like, I'm literally still getting chills thinking about that heroic act by Corporal Greggory Cates! I mean, can you even imagine being in his shoes? He's like a real-life superhero 
! And the fact that he stayed calm and focused under pressure is what really gets me – it's not just about doing the right thing, but doing it at the exact right moment. The emotional bodycam footage is honestly giving me all the feels 
... that little baby's tiny chest rising and falling with each breath is just too much! And I love how Cates downplayed the whole thing, like he's just a regular guy who did what needed to be done 
. But let's be real, this dude saved a life – no big deal, right? 
. And seeing how emotional the bodycam footage is... I'm sure Cates will always remember this moment 
.
I cant believe how fast that cop reacted, that hair clip could've been fatal but he sprang into action like a pro! 
. As a parent myself, you know the panic of having your kid in distress and needing help ASAP. I'm so glad that cop got there when he did 
It's not about the recognition or the medal, it's just that this could've gone horribly wrong and someone's life was literally on the line. And don't even get me started on how annoying it is that we have to scroll through a million comments from people saying "this is so inspiring" when really we should be discussing what kind of training these first responders are supposed to receive in situations like this... 
by this heroic act. 7 months old and choking on a hair clip?! 
That's just terrifying for parents, you know? My mind was racing while watching that bodycam footage - what if the baby didn't make it?! 
Corporal Cates' composure under pressure is insane 
. The fact that he's downplaying the whole thing just makes me want to give him a big hug 
like what if cates hadn't shown up?!? 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around how fast that girl's mom was running outta the house with her baby in tow! Like, what was she even panicking about? But for real though, Cates is a total hero 
OMG, can you believe that cop was able to save a 7-month-old's life from choking on a hair clip?! 
I'm so grateful for cops like him who are trained to handle emergencies like this. And it's not just about saving lives, but also about the emotional impact he must have had on the parents and baby. It's truly heartwarming to see such selfless actions. 
That's insane! I mean, can you even imagine being 7 months old and having some hair clip stuck down your throat? 