PEP, September 2008: We save New Yorkers lives

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

“In our work, things can go from nice and quiet to deadly serious in just a few seconds,” said Lt. Lifeguard Carl Graziano, a member of Lifeguard Supervisors Local 508 who is stationed at Brighton Beach in Brooklyn.

On June 28, the waves were calm as parents with their children, teenagers on summer vacation and senior citizens from the neighborhood enjoyed a beautiful summer day at the beach. But the quiet afternoon turned into a race against death when Lifeguard Anatoliy Kaverin spotted a body floating face down on the water.

“I blew the emergency whistle,” said Kaverin, who jumped into the water with Lifeguard James Manza, a Local 461 member, and pulled out the victim. Later identified as Lev Salganik, 73, of Sheepshead Bay, the man was not breathing and had no pulse.

Chief Lifeguard William Weintraub directed the action on the beach as Lt. Lifeguards Carl Graziano and Vlad Peña sprang into action and started rescue breathing and CPR. Paramedics Jing Kong and Stephen Tortoriello and EMTs Ian Jordan, Mac Gottlieb, members of Local 2507, arrived on the scene and rushed Salganik to Coney Island Hospital.

Teamwork saves the day
In the Emergency Room, Salganik was taken directly to the trauma unit. “Our main responsibility is to monitor the patient’s vital signs and assist the nurses and doctors,” said Nurse’s Aide Lisamma Abraham, a Local 420 member. Salganik went next to intensive care, where he eventually made a full recovery and was released on July 15.

“We were very happy to learn that Mr. Salganik is doing well,” said Valsamma Abraham, another member of Local 420 who works in the emergency room.

Mr. Salganik was extremely fortunate, for the strong currents that raked the region this summer claimed several victims. “And sometimes the public doesn’t cooperate,” said Graziano. “They might swim where they’re not supposed to or alcohol may be involved.”

Fortunately for the public, New York City Lifeguards are some of the best-trained in the country. “There’s no doubt about it,” said Peña, who was a member of the championship swimming team at Bushwick High School in 1987. “Our training program keeps us in great shape year-round.”

City Lifeguards are among the heroes New Yorkers count on when trouble strikes, said Local 508 President Peter Stein. In the June near-tragedy, “Our members’ fast action and excellent training were the critical first step in saving the man,” he said.

Salganik gave PEP a message to send the Lifeguards, EMS workers and the hospital team: “Thank you for giving me my life back.”