Public Employee Press

Life Savers

Mayor honors EMS heroes as rescuers meet with those whose lives they saved.

By ALFREDO ALVARADO

Jada Colon was only 20 months old when she choked on a piece of candy, turned dark blue and fell unconscious in the arms of her mother, Elba Arroyo. Emergency Medical Technicians Manuel Baez and Tania ­Martinez, members of Local 2507, rushed to the Bronx building with Firefighters from Engine Company 50.

They removed the obstruction from Jada’s throat, but Martinez saw that Jada had no pulse and immediately administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Within minutes Jada’s skin returned to normal and she began breathing as she returned from the doors of death.

Elba Arroyo and her daughter were reunited May 18 with the heroes who gave Jada a second chance at life. Their dramatic story was one of many that were shared by victims and rescuers at the 12thannual “Second Chance Brunch” sponsored by the Emergency Medical Service Bureau of the city Fire Dept.

The event was part of the department’s celebration of EMS Week, which also saw 15 EMS professionals honored for their bravery and lifesaving efforts. “Events like this showcase the gratifying results of the hard work and professionalism of the DC 37 members in the Fire Department,” said Tom Eppinger, president of Uniformed EMS Officers Local 3621.

At the brunch in Brooklyn’s MetroTech Café, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta paid tribute to the union members’ heroic efforts. “They have a job to do and they do it better than anyone,” he said. “They are the best trained staff in the country.” He noted the incredibly rapid response time of EMS workers, currently down to six minutes and 32 seconds.

“New York’s best were there when they were needed most,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. He pointed out that 911 operators, who belong to Local 1549, received 26,000 calls in less than six months last year.

On Medal Day, May 17, the Fire Dept. honored union members including EMT Robert M. Brzezinski, who evacuated families from a burning Bronx building before Firefighters arrived; EMTs Andrew J. DeSantis and Merisa A. Simons, who fought valiantly amid jet fuel fumes to save the victims of a Coney Island plane crash; Lt. Barry A. Travis, Paramedic Carlos A. Lizcano and Paramedic Gary S. Smiley, who rescued a woman from the fourth floor of a smoke-filled building in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene; and EMT Randy Holland, who cleared bystanders away from a huge Bronx fuel spill that soon blew up.

The highest honor, the Christopher J. Prescott Medal, went to EMT Stephen A. Smith, who without protective gear returned three times to the basement of a flame-engulfed building to bring out three elderly people.

“We are extremely proud of these fine officers,” said Patrick Bahnken, president of Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics Local 2507.