Local teen saves infant brother's life

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - An area teen was honored by the Red Cross as a hero for his quick thinking in an emergency.

In June 14-year-old Christian Anderson noticed his eight-month-old brother was choking on a wrapper. That's when he remembered what he learned in a first aid class his mother persuaded him to take.

"I gave him five back blows because he was choking," explained Christian.

Those back blows saved the life of Jacob Anderson, Christian's infant brother.

"Kind of picked him up and reacted. It wasn't really much other than, 'He is choking, can't breathe,' and I remembered what to do," Christian Anderson explained.

He gave little Jacob the baby Heimlich maneuver: five slaps on the back. Jacobstarted to breathe again.

"Otherwise I wouldn't have known what to do. I would have just panicked, but since I took the first aid class, I knew what to do," Christian said.

Because of his quick actions, Christian Anderson was awarded the Red Cross Certificate of Appreciation. His instructor couldn't be prouder.

"I applaud him for not panicking, for acting quickly and for getting the job done," said his instructor Randi Lanz.

Christian Anderson's father is hoping his son's story will motivate others to take a first aid class.

"He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He didn't flinch. He didn't worry. He just got the job done. Now Jacob is 11 months old instead of eight," said Jacob and Christian's father Geoff Anderson.