Message From:

The Chief of EMS Command

We are FDNY EMS. Millions depend on the expertise of the men and women of the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Service Command. Our members are well trained, very skilled and extremely knowledgeable pre-hospital medical professionals--Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics and EMS Officers.

Those who are being recognized today have gone beyond the truly amazing work they perform each day when making the difference for some of the eight million residents and 40 million visitors EMS helps. The honorees went “the extra step,” often at risk to themselves or under unusual circumstances when taking action to preserve life.

EMS members’ response to the continuous stream of emergency calls is phenomenal. Their commitment and dedication are exhibited day in and day out. Last year, EMS again set the bar, breaking the record call volume set only 12 months earlier. During 2006, EMS responded to more than 1,164,000 emergency calls. Members performed better and faster than ever before.

I have great pride in being the Chief of EMS for the FDNY. Not only is our EMS system the largest and busiest in the country, but we are also the best! Today’s honorees and our competition teams epitomize why the FDNY EMS is successful in fulfilling its mission, “Serving the Millions Who Depend on Us.” I congratulate the recipients of this year’s medals, as well as all the EMTs, Paramedics and EMS Officers for the tremendous job done each and every day. We are FDNY EMS, the greatest EMS system working in the greatest City in the world.

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