Police, EMS Quick Response Saves South Brunswick Toddler’s Life

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — South Brunswick resident Elvin Centeno’s mother was watching his son Ayden on Sept. 8, when she noticed the toddler had become unresponsive and was having trouble breathing.

The grandmother called a relative, who then dialed 911.

South Brunswick Deputy Police Chief Jim Ryan was around the corner from the Centeno family’s Quincy Circle home, when he heard the call. "I was just nearby and decided to rush to the home. I arrived 30 seconds later to find the little boy in his grandmother’s arms actively seizing,” Ryan told Patch.

Ryan quickly took hold of the toddler, placed him on the floor and cleared his airway. He then brought the child out to EMS as they arrived.

South Brunswick EMS veterans EMTs Danna Meier and Dion Cradic along with paramedics worked rapidly to stabilize the 1-year-old. The child’s seizures continued and he had to be placed on a ventilator, while EMS rushed him to St. Peters University Hospital. Aiden remained on ventilator for two days.

After more than a week of treatment, Ayden made a full recovery and returned home last Friday.

Earlier this week, Ryan and EMTs Meier and Cradic returned to the Centeno home to check on Ayden.

His parents, Elvin and Kelley, credit the quick response by South Brunswick police and EMS with making all the difference in saving the toddler’s life.

“We are so thankful for all they did,” Kelley said.

The 1-year-old has now returned to his normal activities of crawling all over the home and constantly laughing, his parents said.

“We have some of the best first responders from our police to EMS to fire. When seconds count it is a team approach that makes all the difference,” Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. “It is great to see such a positive outcome on what was a very scary situation.”

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