On March 19, Officers with the Acworth Police Department responded to a 911 call at Brickmont of Acworth, an assisted living facility, regarding an elderly resident who was choking on food. Officer Severtson arrived on scene and found the elderly resident turning blue and not responding. Prior to her arrival, the staff of the facility attempted to use the Heimlich maneuver, but was unsuccessful. Officer Severtson utilized her personal “LifeVac”, a rescue suction device. Its sole purpose is to remove any obstruction from the airway of a choking patient. After using LifeVac, the obstruction was removed. According to Cobb Fire, “The quick thinking of Officer Severtson prevented further medical complications and likely prevented the patient from going into cardiac arrest.” Upon hearing of this incident, the department immediately began the process of purchasing LifeVac’s for every officer. We would like to recognize and commend Officer Severtson. We are grateful for her dedication and passion for the job. She has been a valued member of the Acworth Police Department since 2013.

Date of Release

March 21th, 2024

Incident Date

March 19th, 2024

Police Case Number

2404693