Security guard saves choking infant at South Tulsa baby shower

A South Tulsa baby shower turned into a rescue scene on June 18 when Todd Sloggett, a PHD Security guard, saw a 1-year-old girl put a small plastic toy ring in her mouth and choke at the South Tulsa Community House. He removed the object and the baby started breathing again.

Sloggett was working the event near 61st and Peoria when he noticed a mother interacting with guests and then saw a small plastic ring being handed around. He continued watching the child, then saw the girl put the ring in her mouth, gag and choke. In the moment that followed, Sloggett reached in, got his thumb around what he described as a little plastic-like spider ring, and popped it out before the airway obstruction became worse.

The incident shows how fast a family gathering can shift from celebration to emergency. KJRH reported that Tony Martinez, owner of PHD Security Services, said Sloggett’s actions went well beyond the usual duties of a security officer, and the company later recognized him for the response. The rescue also depended on one detail that event hosts often overlook: someone on site knew what choking looked like and reacted immediately.

That matters because the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says small parts that fit in a child’s mouth can create choking, aspiration or ingestion hazards for children under 3. In practice, that means novelty favors, loose decorations, detachable toy pieces and trinkets passed between guests can all become risks when infants and toddlers are in the room. Toys for babies and toddlers need to be age-appropriate and free of small detachable parts, especially at events where gifts are opened, children wander between adults and items move quickly from hand to hand.

The South Tulsa Community House describes itself as a social service organization serving one of Tulsa’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and says it sits in the middle of that community at 61st and Peoria. That setting makes the response even more instructive for organizers: crowded family events need a clear emergency plan, quick access to a phone, and adults who know how to call for help and begin choking response without hesitation. At a baby shower, the difference between a close call and a tragedy can be the person who is paying attention before anyone else realizes a toy has become a threat.