Off-duty paramedic saves choking child, receives Red Cross Heroes Award

A local paramedic was recognized for his heroic off-duty efforts.

Captain TJ Brown is a paramedic with the Savannah River Site Fire Department. The Barnwell resident received the EMT Hero Award from the American Red Cross of Augusta, Ga. for helping a 20-month-old boy who was not breathing after swallowing an apple juice cap.

“I appreciate the accolades from the American Red Cross Hero Award Committee, but I don’t believe that I am a hero. I believe that God has a plan and He put me in a place to help His child that day,” said Brown, a paramedic for 13 years who has worked with the SRS Fire Department for 12 years.

Kayla Proctor of Williston is forever grateful to Brown, who she calls a “true hero” for saving her son’s life on May 6. Brown was with his family at a baseball tournament in Statesboro, Ga. when Proctor’s son Austin started choking on the juice cap.

“May 6, 2023 is a day I will never forget. It was the scariest day of my life because I thought my child was going to die,” said Proctor, who tried to get the object out. “I held him over and tried everything I knew to do but nothing was working.”

She screamed for help, which alerted others to the situation. After Brown’s wife Lacey alerted him to the situation, he jumped into action where his “instinct and training took over. I knew that he needed immediate help,” said Brown.

As someone else called 911, Brown attempted back blows and chest compressions since he couldn’t see the cap.

“Every time he rolled the child on his back, he would quit breathing and had bleeding from his throat area, so he kept him on his chest with his head down to support his positional airway,” according to the nomination form for the award.

These quick efforts helped Austin to keep breathing until the ambulance arrived.

“Austin was scared and screaming. I was panicked and felt helpless, but TJ remained calm throughout the whole ordeal. He rode in the back of the ambulance and held Austin the whole ride to the hospital and went in the ER and held him the whole time the doctors and nurses there were trying to get the object out,” said Proctor.

The cap was lodged in the back near Austin’s tonsils. During the ambulance ride, Austin quit breathing twice and TJ was able to hold him, reposition him and keep him suctioned so Austin could keep breathing, said Proctor.

After arriving at the hospital, medical personnel were able to sedate Austin and remove the cap.

“It was a huge sigh of relief. Knowing that God put you in the right place at the right time to help in a traumatic situation,” said Brown of knowing Austin would be okay.

While May 6 was the scariest day of Proctor’s life, she is grateful “God placed TJ there at that very moment to help Austin and keep him breathing. I am so very thankful for TJ’s quick action and knowledge,” said Proctor.

This isn’t the first time Proctor has witnessed Brown step in to help someone.

“TJ is the type of person who always helps. He coaches my (oldest) son’s travel ball team and any time a kid gets hurt on that field, TJ is the first coach out there to check on players, no matter what team they are on. It’s just who he is,” said Proctor.

On Sept. 26, Brown and other awardees were honored at the Red Cross Heroes Breakfast in Augusta, Ga. This annual event was established to honor local heroes who strive to embody the mission of the Red Cross in their everyday lives.

“I love helping others and always being there for people during their time of need,” said Brown.

Though Brown has years of experience as a paramedic, he encourages everyone to be prepared to help family, friends, and strangers in times of emergencies. This includes taking a basic CPR, first aid and AED course.

“Time is crucial in these situations,” said Brown.

While Brown believes he was just doing his job, he will forever be Austin’s hero.