Abington Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
In a recent social media post on Facebook, the Abington Police Department honored a pair of its own for their heroic efforts last summer.
The Department wrote:
On August 29, 2024, at 4:15pm, Officer Christine Da Cunha and Officer Alison Gontowski were on duty working a Rita-Book Day event at the Abington Free Library. While engaging with the public, they were approached by a library employee who informed them that a child was choking and needed assistance. Both officers immediately responded to assist the 11-year-old boy. They immediately observed the child to have very shallow and labored breathing. Officer Da Cunha performed the heimlich maneuver while Officer Gontowski provided back blows. After a short period of time, the officers were able to dislodge the object in the child’s throat, allowing him to resume normal breathing. An ambulance from The Second Alarmers Rescue Squad responded to the scene and continued giving the child immediate medical attention.
Officers Da Cunha and Gontowski both acted swiftly in response to a medical emergency involving a child. Their actions, and the action of the ambulance crew who responded, helped to avert a potentially life-threatening situation. The officers and members of the Second Alarmers Rescue Squad displayed exceptional professionalism and resilience in managing the challenging situation. The effective teamwork and commitment were crucial in managing the situation and ensuring the child’s safety.
