Packet employee found clinically dead on pressroom floor.
By: David Campbell
Princeton Township Patrol Officer Kim Hodges shares a special bond with Joel Garcia Sanchez.
Last Wednesday, Mr. Sanchez, a 20-year-old press helper at The Packet, suffered a cardiac arrest while working on the pressroom floor, leaving him clinically dead.
According to Packet staffers who witnessed the incident and doctors at The Medical Center at Princeton who treated Mr. Sanchez, the young man would not be alive today if not for Officer Hodges’ quick and professional handling of the crisis.
"Officer Hodges immediately recognized Joel Sanchez to be in a critical state of cardiac arrest," wrote Ted Dentzer, the newspaper’s production director, in a letter of thanks to Princeton Police Chief Anthony Gaylord. Mr. Dentzer had started CPR before police arrived, within minutes of receiving his 911 call.
"The moments that followed were an impressive example of police training, experience and dedication," Mr. Dentzer said in his letter. "Mr. Sanchez was given the life-saving care necessary for any chance to survive."
Mr. Sanchez, who came to Princeton about a year ago from Pueblo Nuevo, a small town in Mexico, is recovering under close observation in the medical center’s telemetry unit.
He has no memory of the incident, and though he owes her his life, he wouldn’t recognize Officer Hodges if he passed her on the street.
"We’ve never officially been introduced," Officer Hodges said, but noted she plans to make those introductions when Mr. Sanchez’s recovery is complete.
Around 5 p.m. last Wednesday, the 20-year-old press helper was preparing to "wash the blankets," or clean the press cylinders, when his co-workers heard him collapse among the machines.
As the staff ran to him, Mr. Sanchez’s body started to convulse. He had no pulse and he was not breathing.
Mr. Dentzer immediately called for emergency help and started to administer CPR with a manual breathalyzer. Officer Hodges and Officer Anthony Paccillo responded within minutes, Mr. Dentzer said.
Witnesses said Officer Hodges impressed them by the decisive way she took control of the situation.
In minutes, she evaluated Mr. Sanchez’s condition, had him moved away from the machines and applied a single shock to his heart with a defibrillator carried in her patrol car.
The officer was applying CPR when the Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad arrived. Mr. Sanchez was stabilized and rushed to the emergency room.
Not unexpectedly, Officer Hodges said her handling of the situation was nothing special. Just good training, she said.
"I’m glad he’s OK," the officer added. "This is the most positive part of the job, I would have to say."
Mr. Sanchez’s aunt, Julia Garcia of Freehold, said she felt like she was "dying along with him" when she heard the news.
On Monday morning, Ms. Garcia, Delfino Bello, Mr. Sanchez’s father-in-law, and other family and friends were by Mr. Sanchez’s hospital bed as the young man prepared to go in for further tests, which would take up most of his day.
"I’m much calmer now," Ms. Garcia said through a translator. "He’s going to come out moving forward."
Mr. Sanchez’s wife, 19-year-old Ofelia Sanchez, their 15-month-old daughter, Erica, and Mr. Sanchez’s mother still live in Mexico. Ms. Garcia said she talked with her nephew’s wife and mother Sunday and told them not to worry.
According to Julie Bemaman, The Packet’s human resources director who rushed to the emergency room with other Packet staffers after she heard what happened, the sound of a familiar voice Ms. Garcia’s awakened Mr. Sanchez to consciousness.
"She started talking to him, and eventually he started fluttering his eyes," Ms. Bemaman said. "I’m not a doctor, but I don’t think this thing would have played out the same way if the aunt wasn’t there."
Ms. Bemaman said the hospital is still awaiting a case history from Mr. Sanchez’s doctor in Mexico. He performed heart surgery on him when Mr. Sanchez was 9. Complications associated with that surgery could be behind the incident last week.
James Kilgore, The Packet’s owner and publisher, thanked Officer Hodges and the Police Department for saving the young man’s life.
"It’s a miracle," Mr. Kilgore said. "We’re certainly very glad the Police Department has the capabilities to respond so effectively in emergencies such as this. I commend the department for a job well done."
Officer Hodges shares a special bond with Mr. Sanchez because she saved his life.
The two can trade stories when they are formally introduced.