Sergeant Paul DeSousa was enjoying a well-deserved family vacation at Dollywood. He was out of uniform, far from home, and fully immersed in the cheerful atmosphere of the theme park. His plan had been to relax, forget about work, and spend quality time with his loved ones. Yet, as a first responder, the instinct to help never truly goes away, even when off duty.
While strolling through the park’s bustling walkways, Sergeant DeSousa suddenly heard frantic cries for help. Without hesitation, he followed the sound and quickly discovered the source: a park employee attempting the Heimlich maneuver on a young boy who had suddenly stopped breathing. The situation looked dire, and the child’s condition was rapidly worsening.
Sergeant DeSousa immediately took charge, calmly assessing the boy’s condition. He observed no visible obstruction in the child’s mouth or throat, but the boy’s face had begun to turn a worrying shade of blue. Recognizing the need for rapid intervention, he swiftly began performing CPR in an effort to restore the boy’s breathing.
At that critical moment, another off-duty first responder, a paramedic also visiting Dollywood with his family, appeared on the scene. Side by side, the two professionals worked tirelessly, using their combined training and expertise to stabilize the young patient. Their teamwork paid off as the boy’s color gradually began to return, and hope was rekindled among the concerned onlookers.
Sergeant DeSousa and the paramedic remained with the child, closely monitoring him until emergency medical services arrived. When the ambulance finally came, the pair helped to ensure a smooth handover, confident they had given the boy his best chance of recovery. Even on a family vacation, Sergeant DeSousa’s commitment to saving lives had not wavered—proving that a first responder’s duty is never truly left behind.
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