A deputy in unincorporated Santa Cruz County resuscitated a 2-month-old baby boy who had stopped breathing Tuesday afternoon, sheriff's officials said.
Emergency crews responded to 17th Avenue and Capitola Road on reports that an infant had stopped breathing at around 4:20 p.m., according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
Deputy Doug Smith was the first to arrive and was flagged down by the child's mother who led him to the infant at a nearby laundromat.
Smith, who has undergone extensive medical first-responder training, administered rescue breaths until the child began to breathe on his own, sheriff's officials said.
Paramedics then took the boy to a medical facility for additional treatment.
Sheriff's Sgt. Christine Swannack said Smith's quick response saved the baby's life.
"As of (Tuesday) the baby was breathing on his own and doing fine," Swannack said.
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Sheriff's officials said Smith is a 10-year veteran of the sheriff's office and is assigned as a canine handler.
