Prepared for Every Emergency 

June 17, 2026 – Mariposa County Sheriff's Office officials announce that being prepared for all types of emergencies is part of our job, and on Monday that preparation helped save a young life.

Mariposa County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a call involving a 16-month-old child who was choking. Several years ago, the Sheriff made the decision to invest in DeCHOKER devices and place one in every patrol vehicle, hoping we would never need to use them.

On Monday, that investment proved invaluable.

When deputies arrived, the child was turning blue and was not breathing. Using the DeCHOKER device, deputies performed one suction pull, which successfully dislodged the object blocking the child's airway.

Thanks to quick action, training, and having the right equipment available, a 16-month-old child's life was saved.

We are grateful that this little one is now safe. Moments like these remind us why preparedness matters and why we continue investing in tools and training that help us serve and protect our community.

Source & photo: Mariposa County Sheriff's Office