Corrections Officer's Quick Action Averts More Serious Tragedy

(Concord, NH) New Hampshire State Prison Warden Richard M. Gerry awarded Corrections Officer Roy Tripp a letter of commendation on August 2, 2007, for assisting a three-year old Nashua boy who was choking on a piece of candy in the prison’s visiting room.

On July 31, 2007 at approximately 2:00 p.m., Officer Tripp noticed the child appeared to be choking and the visitors at the table becoming frantic and agitated. Officer Tripp asked another Officer to call an ambulance and proceeded to investigate the situation. He observed that the child was discolored and not breathing. He placed the child over his right arm and applied multiple back thrusts. In a few moments the candy was dislodged and the child gasped and began breathing.

In a brief recognition ceremony, Warden Gerry thanked Officer Tripp and said, “The hard work and the training that you and your fellow officers go through to keep the public safe often goes unnoticed and this is a way to thank you for a creditable accomplishment.”

Department of Corrections employees are certified annually in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation training. Officer Tripp is a ten-year veteran employee with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections.