Corporal Kristy Peters of the Crestview Police Department has been awarded the City’s Lifesaving Award for her quick actions that saved a 2-week-old infant’s life on August 22, 2024.

• The incident began around 8:50 p.m. when Crestview Dispatch received a 911 call from a father reporting his infant son was not breathing and foaming at the mouth. The father informed dispatch he was en route to North Okaloosa Medical Center.

Corporal Peters located the father at the intersection of Highway 85 and PJ Adams Parkway. Upon arrival, she observed the infant’s lips were blue, indicating oxygen deprivation.

• Peters promptly administered back blows, which successfully dislodged the vomit causing the infant to choke, allowing the baby to resume breathing.

Emergency Medical Services arrived as the infant’s color began returning to normal. The child was then transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center, where he received a clean bill of health.

In response to receiving the award, Corporal Peters said, “I chose to work for the Crestview Police Department for their apparent dedication to constant improvement; starting from the caliber of people they elect to hire. This dedication continues to be benchmarked in their training department, which provided me with additional skills and the confidence needed to perform my duties.”

• Peters also emphasized the broader implications of the incident, stating, “This incident is a refreshing reminder of the positive outcomes seldomly reflected in today’s media. More importantly, I want this to be a reminder to the public of the importance of having these basic lifesaving skills as part of their repertoire.”

The Crestview Police Department praised Corporal Peters for embodying their core values, expressing pride in her outstanding presence on their team.