(Cheektowaga, NY)   Three-year-old Aubrey Farelli is having a terrific start to 2005. The end of 2004, however, was tough for the young child. Paramedics from Rural/Metro Medical Services and Volunteers from the South Line Fire Department saved the young girl's life.

Aubrey was at home on a Wednesday evening with her parents. While eatign a doughnut, a piece of the pastry got stuck in her throat and she began to choke. Her mother immediately recognized the problem and called 9-1-1.

The south Line Volunteer Fire Department was the first company to arrive at the scene. By this time the toddler was turning blue. Paramedic Gina Chellino is a volunteer with the fire company and a full-time Paramedic with Rural/Metro Medical Services. She immediately assessed the child and took appropriate action.

She carefully removed the obstruction and quickly intubated the young girl. dIntubation is the insertion of a tube into the airway to help someone breathe.

While Chellino was dealing with the emergency, her Rural/Metro colleagues arrived on scene to assist. Paramedic Joe Bielinski and EMT Justin DeSilva scooped the youngster up and transported her to Women's and Children's Hospital. Paramedic Supervisor Jason Rutecki also assisted the team.

"Our field personnel commit these heroic acts every day," said Rob Zachrich, General Manager of Rural/Metro Medical Services. "Between the quick response of the South Line Fire Department and the response of our Paramedics, a young girl can look forward to a health 2005. I am very proud of our field crews that do this type of thing every day. They are true heroes in every sense of the word."

Rural/Metro, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, has satellite offices and ambulance bases in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, and Niagara Falls as well as several other locations throughout Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties. Their 550+ Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and support personnel are responsible for servicing 22 hospitals and over 100 nursing homes and health care facilities as well as the one million residents that reside in Western New York.