ARTICLES - JANUARY 2009

On the Job, He Stopped to Save a Life

A stalled car sitting in the turn lane might not get much notice from the average motorist. But it got Jose Soto’s attention. And a little girl is alive because of it.

Soto was returning to the Water South Service Center on Green Oaks Boulevard where he works in Meter Services when he pulled up behind an idling vehicle. He noticed a woman clutching a small child.

Jose turned on the emergency lights of his truck and called dispatch for 911. From the passenger window, he saw the panic-stricken woman rapidly patting a child on the back.

In Spanish, she told Soto that her child was choking and couldn’t breathe.

Soto had never tried to save a life. He patted the girl on the back to see if he could dislodge whatever the child was choking on. Soon a large chunk of candy was released. She began to breathe. Emergency medical personnel appeared on the scene.

News of the October traffic stop surfaced only recently in a spotlight on safety article in the Water Department newsletter. Jose said he didn’t want to make a big deal of “doing what any of my co-workers would have done.”

News update: Jose is now among more than 21,000 residents trained in CPR as part of a citywide initiative called CPaRlington. Fire department paramedics gave Jose one-on-one instruction, just in case he ever has to save another life. Soto has been employed with the City of Arlington since 2007. Learn more about CPR. Visit www.CPArlington.org.