Lakewood Fire Commissioner Yaakov Steinberg was in the right place at the right time.While traveling on Route 18 on Thursday, Commissioner Steinberg noticed an accident, and immediately sprung into action.

Steinberg tells TLS he was driving toward Lakewood at about 2:30PM, when he noticed an accident in the northbound lanes at approximately exit 8.

“I pulled over to the median and got out to see if anyone needed any assistance,” Steinberg said. “So I tend to the first car I see, and it was a young girl who had just gotten her license. She was a bit shaken, but otherwise doing well.”

About 200 feet away, he says he spotted another car on the shoulder with a few people at the passenger’s side of the car.

“I called over asking if anyone needed any medical assistance, and someone responded that a patient was not responsive and his situation did not look good.”

“So I quickly ran back to my vehicle where I had a trauma kit and other emergency gear (as I feel it is important to be knowledgeable in different areas in case of emergency), and raced over to the vehicle.”

“As I approached the car, a woman named Paula told me that she is an EMT (from Ocean Grove) and did not get a pulse. A quick scan revealed the man was not breathing and was turning blue. I quickly started CPR, and with the help of Paula, we got him out of the car and continued CPR.”

As he was doing compressions, Paula got a BVM (a breathing apparatus) out of his kit, and together worked as a team until the first Neptune police officer arrived and used an AED to shock him back to life.

“It was a relief to see his lips move, and a triumphant feeling that I had a part in saving this man’s life,” said Steinberg. “I really wish him well and a speedy recovery.”

He added, “This is just a reminder that we everyday people have the ability to change people’s worlds. I can’t express the importance of learning basic things such as the Heimlich maneuver and CPR – you can really save someone’s life. And if you have more to give, think about joining a volunteer organization such as the Fire Department, EMS, or Hatzolah – they are the backbone of our community’s emergency needs, and they are always looking for new talent.”

“I would like to acknowledge Paula, a Good Samaritan, who put her emotions aside and did what was needed in the most difficult of times to care for someone in need, and to all the emergency response who came from Neptune. They were a very professional group, and fast with their work to get the patient and the scene secured.”

The patient was transported to JSUMC, and the accident remains under investigation.