Woodbridge Cop Lauded After Saving Newborn’s Life

WOODBRIDGE, CT — A local police officer recently rescued a newborn who was choking and struggling to breathe.

Police Chief Ronald Smith said the rescue happened in late May.

Officer Nicholas Samartino responded to a residence in the late evening, after police received a report that a newborn was choking and experiencing difficulty breathing, according to Smith.

The child was only five days old at the time, according to police.

Samartino immediately began administering back blows, then moments later, suctioned the infant’s airway, Smith said.

“His prompt actions successfully cleared the obstruction, and the infant soon began crying, bringing immense relief to everyone present,” Smith said, in an announcement Friday.

Ambulance personnel took the child to Yale-New Haven Hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment.

“Officer Samartino is credited with successfully clearing the infant’s airway and helping to save the child’s life,” Smith said.

According to Smith, the newborn’s parents credited Samartino’s “swift and decisive actions” with saving their baby.

The community over the weekend posted more than 500 comments on the department’s Facebook post about the incident.

Nancy Milewski posted, “God bless you, Officer Samartino (and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that spell check insisted on changing your name to Samaritan- twice!). Thank you for your service and heroism.”

Another commenter, Brian Tomasio, wrote: “Not all heroes wear capes, Nor do all angels on earth have wings that you can see, yet many do wear a blue badge of service - and when it matters most, they show up.”