In the past two months, California Highway Patrol Officer Rick Murray has done more than keep the speeds down on Sacramento freeways – he has used lifesaving skills to restore breathing to both a toddler and a woman.
In the first episode Feb. 13, Murray, a motorcycle officer, was on patrol when he rolled up to three stopped vehicles in the center median of Highway 50, east of Highway 99. As he arrived, Cassie Moore showed Murray her 18-month-old daughter.
Moore's child had stopped breathing.
"The baby was absolutely blue," said Murray, a 17-year veteran of the CHP.
Murray radioed for medical aid and then took the child from her mother's arms. He opened the toddler's mouth and noticed the airway was blocked so he struck her back a few times to dislodge vomit from the child's throat.
That started the child breathing and crying. The child was taken to a hospital and is now home and doing well.
The second episode occurred Tuesday as Murray responded to a crash on Highway 50 near 16th Street. Both motorists had moved their vehicles to a nearby street to wait in safety for the CHP's arrival.
But one woman, Amy Huang, 36, lost consciousness while seated in her vehicle. Her husband called for help, and Murray, 45, came to her aid, helping to carry Huang to a nearby sidewalk.
According to a CHP press release, Huang had a rapid but weak pulse and was not breathing. Murray took off his helmet and tried to feel her breath on his cheek.
"I began to give her what are called 'rescue breaths,' " or artificial respiration, he said. Slowly, Huang began to breathe and regain consciousness.
She was taken to a hospital and is reported to be home and resting comfortably.
Murray is a qualified emergency medical technician. Trained at the CHP Academy, he has kept up with his training through the years.
"I did what I was trained to do," Murray said Friday. "When I saw them needing help, I just went down the checklist that has been drilled into my head. Nothing special. Officers do this throughout the state every day."
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079. Follow him on Twitter @Lindelofnews.
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