05/21/2026
In the middle of annual EMS Week, we want to tell you all about an amazing story of survival that was recognized last night.
Late at night last September, OBPD Communications received a call reporting a multiple stabbing. As officers raced in to secure the scene, BLS 2 and 3 were dispatched and enroute. Supervisor Ken McLaughlin was first to arrive on scene, where he found 2 teenage victims in the roadway with stab wounds being tended to by officers. After performing a quick triage of both victims' injuries, Supervisor McLaughlin turned his direct attention to the more critically injured victim, who had a single stab wound to the chest, and began treating his injuries. He immediately applied a Chest Seal and provided further treatment with the officers assistance, while also still providing verbal instruction to officers with the other victim until both ambulances arrived.
Upon arrival of both BLS units, EMTs Dawn Luhrs and Greg Videla, along with Supervisor McLaughlin, packaged the victim and moved him to the ambulance where Paramedics from RWJ were already waiting after arriving on scene. EMTs JC Prophete and Nick Kuznetsov took over and provided care to the other victim. Both victims were taken to RWJ hospital in New Brunswick (in 22 minutes) and turned over to the ER Trauma team. This is where the calls NORMALLY end for us.
However, last night, we attended the "National Trauma Survivors Day" Award ceremony after being contacted by RWJBH. Our crews, officers and medics got to meet the victim who's life they saved, his family and celebrate his recovery.
Jo'Siah survived an injury that normally results in 80%-90% of victims dying from before ever making it to the hospital, as noted in the slide. But as a result of fast response, recognition of injuries, treatment and transport from all who were there, he has made a FULL recovery and we are ecstatic to have met him, his family, and learn that he will be crossing the stage to graduate high school in a few weeks.
It was an honor to be part of such an wonderful evening and "well done" to all involved.
OBPD: Dispatcher Crawford
Officers DeMaio, Endaz and Schwartz
OBTEMS:
Supervisor McLaughlin
EMTs Luhrs, Videla, Prophete, and Kuznetsov
RWJ:
Paramedics Shankle and Vogt
And everyone else involved that led to this perfect outcome.