MIAMI COUNTY — An Indiana State Police trooper is credited with saving the life of a 5-year-old boy at the side of a Miami County highway on Thursday.
State police say Trooper Ben Reason was driving home from a day of K-9 training in Indianapolis when dispatchers called out an unresponsive 5-year-old boy. The child was inside a minivan that was stopped on US 31 near Miami county Road 900 North.
Reason was less than a minute from the scene and rushed to help, arriving within 30 seconds of the dispatch.
The child was being held by his mother and Reason said his head and jaw were clenched shut and could not be opened. Reason determined the child was choking on something and was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver, causing the little boy to throw up the item that was lodged in his throat.
After clearing the child's mouth, the little boy slowly became responsive and Reason continued to assist the parents until paramedics arrived. The child was taken to Dukes Memorial Hospital in Peru for treatment.
The little boy's family told state police they were traveling through the state on the way home to Georgia after a vacation in Michigan.
The little boy was released from the hospital and the family were able to continue their trip home Friday morning.
Reason has served seven years with the Indiana State Police and is assigned to the Indiana State Police Special Operations Section as a K-9 handler for the Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (SWAT).
State police say troopers received first aid training every two years, which includes pulmonary resuscitation and Heimlich maneuver.
