11-Year-Old Girl Saves Infant Cousin From Choking — Credits Red Cross Babysitting Course for Teaching Her What to Do
An ordinary family birthday celebration turned into a lifesaving moment when 11-year-old Fenyx Aubin-LeBlanc acted quickly to save her 10-month-old cousin from choking. The Grade 6 student has since been honoured with a Red Cross Rescuer Award, recognizing her calm, confident response.
This story was originally reported by the Windsor Star. You can read their full article here:
🔗 https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/red-cross-awards-11-year-old-windsor-girl-who-saved-infant-from-choking
According to Fenyx, her ability to act came directly from her training.
“I took the babysitter course twice,” she said. “It’s a little scary — you think, ‘What if this happens?’ But now I know what to do.
A Scary Moment at a Family Celebration
The incident took place on January 2 at the Windsor home of Fenyx’s grandfather. Extended family members had gathered for a birthday party, with adults chatting in the kitchen while the children watched TV in the living room.
Baby Nora sat in an “Exersaucer” bouncer when Fenyx suddenly heard choking sounds. When she noticed Nora’s face turning red, she immediately called for help, lifted the infant from the seat, turned her face-down, and delivered a series of firm back blows — the recommended method for clearing a blocked airway in infants.
Her training paid off. Nora began breathing again just as the adults rushed into the room.
Later, the family discovered that the baby had been chewing on a piece of tissue paper torn from gift packaging.
Recognition for a Lifesaving Act
At Saint-Antoine French Catholic Elementary School, Canadian Red Cross representatives presented Fenyx with the Red Cross Rescuer Award. Baby Nora and her mother, Nicolette LeBlanc, attended the presentation.
Nicolette expressed her gratitude during the ceremony:
“You were right there for my baby girl… You saved your little cousin.”
C.J. Taylor, the district manager of prevention and safety for the Canadian Red Cross, praised Fenyx for remembering her training and taking action.
“That’s what we like to see. We’re about helping people, and that’s what you did.”
Why First Aid Training Matters
Fenyx mentioned she took the babysitting course twice because she regularly cares for her two younger sisters. Her preparation gave her both knowledge and confidence — two things that can make all the difference during an emergency.
Stories like this highlight the value of proper first aid training, especially when caring for infants and young children.
If you want to learn essential skills like choking response, CPR, and emergency readiness, consider enrolling in a course such as Standard First Aid & CPR, which covers these situations in detail.
👉 Learn more at: Red Cross awards 11-year-old Windsor girl who saved infant from choking
About the Canadian Red Cross Babysitting Course
The Red Cross babysitting course is open to youth aged 11 to 15 and includes training in:
Infant and child First Aid
CPR basics
Choking emergencies
Fire and water safety
“Home Alone” education
The program is one full day and offered monthly.
Learn These Lifesaving Skills
Whether you’re a parent, babysitter, or caregiver, first aid knowledge can make a life-changing difference. Just like Fenyx, you can build the confidence to act when it matters most.
Additional Resources
For more information on choking response and infant safety, explore these trusted links:
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