Medic rescues choking toddler Published Aug. 17, 2009 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Tech. Sgt. Mario Cooper was able to put his training to good use Aug. 3 An orthopedic technologist with the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron Orthopedic Element, Sergeant Cooper had gone to the Biloxi baseball complex near the high school to watch his 3-year-old son Christian and other children at baseball practice. "I just went to check to ensure they were OK," he explained. "I decided to sit and watch for a while. As I was sitting there, I noticed a 2-year-old boy come around the corner, gagging. He vomited several times as he tried to get some air. He came to me and I saw he was choking. I was nervous and a bit scared but I pressed on his back a couple of times. When I did that, it dislodged a piece of plastic from his throat. I was able to stick my fingers in his mouth and remove it." He attributes his actions to the training he has received as a medic, including basic life support and self-aid buddy care, which included watching the Heimlich maneuver being performed. Sergeant Cooper admitted he was "scared to death" when the toddler appeared but his past training paid off. He said the boy's mother was very appreciative when he brought the child over to her. His oldest son Quincy, 9, and her oldest son play on the same ball team. "I didn't think it was such a big deal," he remarked. "I didn't really see it that way at all."