Full Notification

 
The split-second actions of a man’s three children and two officers saved his life when his heart suddenly stopped. James Hart had just coached his son’s 7th and 8th-grade basketball team on Saturday, February 4th when he started to drive home not feeling good. The 46-year-old told his sons Daniel who is in 8th grade and Gabriel who is in 7th grade that he had chest pain as they drove the 10-minute ride home. As he neared his home he began to swerve on Henderson Road. He got the car in the driveway and staggered to the front door of his home, but collapsed on the front porch. Daniel immediately turned his father over who was face down to see if he was breathing. He told his brother Gabriel to call 911. Gabriel told the 911 dispatchers that their Dad had chest pain and then collapsed. Daniel realized his Dad wasn't breathing and started compressions. His brother Sam, who is in 11th grade, was in the backyard with their dog when he realized what was happening.  Sam and Daniel moved their Dad into the house and continued CPR.
 
Officer Kyle Klemas and Officer Aaron Parks were nearby and arrived within four minutes of the call. The two officers continued CPR and applied a defibrillator. The defibrillator gave a “shock” but the officers still felt no pulse and continued CPR. A minute later Kendall Park First Aid Squad arrived and the defibrillator gave a second shock. Officers determined Hart had regained a pulse and began to breathe on his own. EMS and paramedics arrived and transported him to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Hart an adjunct professor at Rutgers University and pastor at Abundant Life Family Worship Church made a full recovery. Hart said he was advised he had what is called a widowmaker heart attack. The American Heart Association study shows that only 12% of people suffering from a widowmaker heart attack outside the hospital get to survive.  
 
 
South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka credits the quick actions of Hart’s sons and the fast response by officers and EMS with making a difference. “When seconds counted, every action they took made the difference. These young people knew CPR and started it right away. The officers quickly got there and applied the defibrillator.” He added, “The more people learn CPR the more lives that can be saved. Knowing CPR should be as basic as getting a driver’s license.”
   
Chief Hayducka and the family credit the Crossroads South Middle School with starting a program that trains all 7th-grade students in CPR. The school through a partnership with Penn Medicine at Princeton provides training on CPR. “These young people had no idea if they would ever use this training, but they were prepared and acted when it counted,” said Chief Hayducka.
 
To learn more about becoming CPR certified contact Penn Medicine Princeton Health at 1.888-897-8979 or go to https://www.princetonhcs.org/events?type=cprfirstaid.
 
To watch an interview with the three sons describing their actions go to South Brunswick Police YouTube at https://youtu.be/qa8DIE-uK9E
 
 
 

Instructions:

To learn more about becoming CPR certified contact Penn Medicine Princeton Health at 1.888-897-8979 or go to https://www.princetonhcs.org/events?type=cprfirstaid.