While Parkorn Patimetha was teaching a CPR class last year for the Red Cross, one of his students passed out.
“I was teaching the class what to do when someone looses consciousness,” said Patimetha, a biology teacher at Snyder High School and 10-year resident of Jersey City. “All of a sudden, one of the students fell over. I thought she was just demonstrating what happens when you pass out, but then she didn’t move.”
According to Patimetha’s boss, Hudson County Red Cross Health and Safety Director Michael Santopietro, Patimetha quickly jumped in and revived the victim.
“Pakorn did a great job,” noted Santopietro.
For his actions, Patimetha will be the only Jersey City resident honored at the Fifth Annual Heroes Breakfast, held by the Red Cross on March 14 in Englewood Cliffs.
“I didn’t even think about what I was doing,” explained Patimetha. “I’ve done CPR so many times before. I just acted naturally. I think she didn’t have anything to eat before coming to class.”
Until recently, Patimetha was an EMT worker in Jersey City, working for the medical center and other ambulance services.
“When you are an EMS person in Jersey City, what happened in that class is nothing,” Patimetha said. “That happens all the time.”
In 1993, Patimetha arrived in America with his father from Thailand. After going to Snyder High School, Patimetha got his degree in biology, a subject he has always been fond of.
“When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time at the Main Branch of the Jersey City Public Library,” said the Eighth Avenue resident. “I would read about science and nature. The library is one of the things that kept me out of trouble.”
Learning English was, at first, hard for the new arrival.
“It took a while, but I got jobs where you had to know English or there was no chance,” Patimetha said.
One of those jobs was as a lifeguard for the Jersey City Recreation Department.
“I did that in the summer, and that was a very vocal job,” said Patimetha.
Along with his teaching duties, Patimetha works as a CPR instructor for the Red Cross. At the present time, he has not decided whether he wants to continue as a science teacher or go after his other dream.
“I would like to be an emergency room doctor,” said Patimetha. “I really like the challenge.”
Patimetha explained he dislikes a boring or tedious work environment.
“It would be something different every day,” said Patimetha. “Emergency room doctors never see the same case every day. It would more than ‘Here’s your pill, next patient please.’ ”
Patimetha recognizes there would be problems with being a doctor which would not exist for a high school teacher. One of the biggest would be malpractice suits.
“If a bunch of doctors go out on strike over the cost of malpractice insurance, there must be a problem,” said Patimetha.
Owns a falcon
As far as he knows, Patimetha is also the only licensed falconer in Hudson County. Interested in wildlife since he was a child, Patimetha has owned a falcon named Freak for two years.
“I gave him that name after he attacked me when I first got him,” said Patimetha. “I loosened my grip for just one second and he drove his talons into my lower lip. They are like razors.”
Despite that unpleasant introduction, Patimetha kept Freak, and the two hunt regularly in the Jersey City area.
“The neighbors love my falcon,” said Patimetha. “Falcons are very good hunters and they keep pigeons away.”
According to Patimetha, falcons are never actually tamed, but simply develop a trust relationship with their masters.
“It’s really a matter of positive reinforcement,” said Patimetha. “Falconry is a hunting sport, except you use a bird and not a gun.”
Like his desire to be an ER doctor, Patimetha sees owning a bird that will never “be a dog” as another way to break up life’s routines.
“Having a falcon is challenge,” said Patimetha.