EMTs Honored for February Heart Attack Save

Three Manchester emergency responders were honored at the March 14 township council meeting for saving a heart attack victim in February. 

Council President Craig Wallis presented Chris Garrett and Will Wojcik from Manchester First Aid and Rescue Squad No. 29 with plaques for rescuing a male who suffered a heart attack on Feb. 2.

Mike Pauciello, also a member of the squad, was not present at the ceremony.

"The best part of our jobs is something like this," Wallis said about presenting the honors. "These guys and the other responders, and our fire department and our police -- when they do something like this, they deserve the recognition and appreciation for the hours and hours of training that they did. And the selflessness of the hours that you put in."

"Thank you very much," Wallis said.

The crew had responded to a call that a male was suffering a stroke, but when they arrived on scene discovered the victim was having a heart attack. The responders were able to revive the man after delivering six shocks and performing CPR. 

The victim was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River and has since recovered.

In a proclamation, Mayor Michael Fressola stated that he tenders the awards "with the deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation of Manchester, its governing body and all of the citizenry" to the three EMTs "for their selfless and heroic actions."

Garrett and Wojcik have served on the squad since 2010; Pauciello has served since 2009.

The squad last year , sustaining the lives of eight patients suffering cardiac arrest. The previous record was five saves in the early 1990s.