Border Patrol agents leaving the Tucson Station Sunday evening encountered a woman with a 2-year-old child in medical distress near the intersection of Golf Links and South Swan roads.
The first agent on scene was told the child suffered a seizure and was not breathing. The agent used his service radio to request emergency medical services. Fellow Border Patrol Agent Michael Meshirer, a paramedic, heard the radio call for help and responded.
Agent Meshirer looked in the woman’s vehicle, saw the child in a car seat with her chin pressed against her chest, unresponsive, and immediately took action. He removed the child from the car seat and positioned her face down, using gravity to clear her airway of mucus and saliva. Agent Meshirer then administered concentrated oxygen to assist the child’s breathing and consciousness.
Additional Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technicians also arrived on scene and monitored the child’s condition until the Tucson Fire Department arrived. The woman chose to drive her daughter to a local hospital for further evaluation.
“When professional medical care is initiated prior to our arrival, the immediate care is priceless for the patient, increasing their chances for a positive outcome,” said Tucson Fire Department Captain, Andrew Skaggs.
Tucson Sector has approximately 275 agents trained as EMTs and more than 10 trained as paramedics, always ready to respond to anyone in need of medical assistance. All Border Patrol agent are trained as first responders.