EMS Members Save Life of Correction Officer in Cardiac Arrest

Paramedics Favian Salazar and Michael King saved the life of a correction officer at Riker’s Island on May 12.

They were called to Riker’s at around noon for a man experiencing chest pains.

The team said the patient was with a doctor at the clinic and was hooked up to an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine that indicated his heart was stressed.

“We knew right away that he was not in good shape,” said Paramedic Salazar.

They transported him to the ambulance and while on route to Elmhurst Hospital Center, the officer went in to cardiac arrest.

The paramedics began doing CPR on the victim and shocked him once to restore his heartbeat. After arriving at the hospital, he was rushed to the catheterization lab and is currently in stable condition.

“They did everything by the numbers they couldn’t have done anything better,” said Deputy Chief Howard Sickles. “This was the true essence of a save.”