Humble utility worker saves life of choking toddler

First Aid Training in the workplace. You never know when first aid training will come in handy. But better to be prepared.

Ryan Scribner says he was working on a line in a back yard when a coworker alerted him to a little boy screaming.(Source: WKYT/CNN)Ryan Scribner says he was working on a line in a back yard when a coworker alerted him to a little boy screaming.(Source: WKYT/CNN)

LEXINGTON, KY (WKYT/CNN) –  A utility worker in Lexington is being hailed a hero after saving a choking baby.

It’s an occupation that takes a good eye. “Just changing polls, old polls with new polls, and replacing everything with new parts,” is how lineman Ryan Scribner describes his job. His job consists of making sure power lines are repaired or replaced safely.

But on Tuesday his job description quickly changed. “Yeah we were not expecting anything like that. You never do,” he said on Thursday. Scribner says he was working on a line in a back yard when a coworker alerted him to a little boy screaming.

“Little boy came out, saying his baby brother wasn’t breathing,” Scribner said.  Leonel Gamboa, 11, says when his baby brother, Santiago, started choking, he ran for help. He says he noticed the linemen working outside and thought they would know what to do.

“I was very worried about my baby brother,” the boy said. That’s when Scribner stepped in to help. He says because of the training he got through his company, he knew exactly what to do.

“Probably five, six, seven compressions in he was breathing pretty  normal. But we still had the police and ambulance come just to make sure everything was all right. And little guy seemed to be doing pretty good,” he said.

And now, thanks to Scribner’s quick response, the boy’s baby brother is doing great. An outcome everyone is thankful for. “Instincts kick in. You go out help them as best you can,” Scribner said.

 Copyright 2017 WKYT via CNN. All rights reserved. 

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