Deputy saves 3-year-old from choking

CURRITUCK -- When Aiden Giroux, 3, turned red and stuck fingers down his mouth, his grandmother knew instantly something was wrong.

But in the crucial seconds that followed, Teresa Rainwater of Powells Point froze. She knew she needed to do something, but she wasn't sure what.

Aiden had never choked before. But the panic in his eyes and his frantic movements were evidence enough that something was lodged in his throat. "He's not breathing," Rainwater shouted.

Fortunately for Aiden and his grandmother, Currituck Sheriff's Deputy Jason Edmondson just happened to be nearby.

Edmondson, who was in the Currituck Clerk of Court's Office to collect some paperwork that day two days before Thanksgiving, spotted Aiden and saw he was in distress. Aiden's red face was turning white and he was falling to the floor.

At that moment, eight years' training in cardio pulmonary resuscitation kicked in without Edmondson even thinking about it.

He knew not to use the Heimlich maneuver, a series of abdominal thrusts used for older choking victims. Smaller children can be hurt by the procedure, so instead, Edmondson flipped Aiden upside down and with the palm of his hand, hit him on the back.

The first two times, nothing happened. The third time, a piece of hard candy shot from Aiden's mouth.

Aiden started crying - a relief to Rainwater and the clerks in the office who had watched in horror at the quick turn of events.

It took the dazed youngster a few minutes to realize that Edmondson had saved him, Rainwater says.

Aiden had met Edmondson just a few minutes prior to the incident. Rainwater, a victims advocate for Albemarle Hopeline, had stopped by the clerk of court's office after taking Aiden to the health department. When she introduced Aiden to Edmondson, the youngster initially hid behind his grandmother. He quickly warmed up to the man in uniform, however. Neither had any idea what would happen only minutes later.

After Rainwater explained to Aiden that the deputy had saved him from choking, the youngster renewed his friendship with Edmondson and began calling him a hero. Now he talks about becoming a police officer when he grows up, Rainwater said. He even had some practice handcuffing his grandmother after the two of them hung out with Edmondson after the incident. "Nine-one-one could not have gotten there fast enough," Rainwater said.

Rainwater calls Edmondson a hero for rescuing her grandson, but the deputy says that's not how he views himself. "I saved a little boy, and I am grateful to help, but I don't consider myself a hero," he said.