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Duty calls for EMT, even when she's off-duty

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 30, 2009 04:29 PM

By Jack Nicas, Globe Correspondent

Even though they had only exchanged hellos, an off-duty Boston EMT didn't hesitate to save her neighbor’s life in the middle of a Roslindale intersection.

At around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 30 minutes after her eight-hour EMS shift ended, Katrina Sanchez was driving home from work when she stopped to perform the Heimlich maneuver on a 72-year-old neighbor who was choking on a pork rind.

“It was the big save of the day,” Sanchez said. “But it’s no big deal. … This is what I signed up for.”

Sanchez

Sanchez said she was approaching her home in Roslindale when she noticed her across-the-street neighbor stopped at the juncture of Blue Ledge Drive and Highcrest Road. His driver-side door hung open and two other neighbors were attending to him.

“You do these kind of calls often,” Sanchez said. “If something’s going on you’re more aware—you’re more likely to pick it up.”

Sanchez rushed to the victim, striking his back several times before she was able to get him out of the car and perform the Heimlich. The pork rind was out moments later, she said. Sanchez then called 911 as a precaution and the man was taken to Faulkner Hospital.

The 27-year-old Sanchez is a member of the most recent graduating class at Boston EMS Academy. She began full-time EMS duty in January.

“I am extremely proud of the immediate actions taken by EMT Sanchez,” Boston EMS Chief Rich Serino said. “She showed no hesitation in helping this man, and her quick thinking and actions may have saved his life.”

“This is what we do,” said Sanchez, who seemed surprised by the attention. “It might seem out of the ordinary for some, but I didn’t think about it twice.”