FIRE COMMISSIONER NICHOLAS SCOPPETTA JOINS CARDIAC ARREST VICTIMS AS THEY REUNITE WITH PARAMEDICS, EMTs AND FIREFIGHTERS WHO GAVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

The New York City Fire Department will hold it's 11 th Annual "Second Chance Brunch" on Thursday, May 19 th. The event will reunite victims of cardiac arrest with the FDNY Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters who saved their lives.

In the United States sudden cardiac arrest is a major unresolved health problem. Each year it strikes over 350,000 people, that’s nearly 1,000 every day. Sadly many of these victims die before reaching the hospital, usually within two hours of the onset symptoms. Research has shown that early defibrillation coupled with CPR within the first few minutes after sudden cardiac arrest can greatly increase the survival rate.

WHO:	Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Chief of Department Peter Hayden, Chief of Fire Operations Salvatore Cassano, Chief of EMS Command John Peruggia, Deputy Assistant Chief of EMS Command Jerry Gombo, Deputy Assistant Chief of EMS Command John McFarland, Paramedics, EMT's and Firefighters joined by cardiac arrest victims and their families.
WHAT:	Victims of cardiac arrest are reunited with the members of the FDNY who saved their lives.
WHERE:	The Metrotech Café, 2 nd Floor, 4 Chase Metrotech Center, Brooklyn .
WHEN:	Thursday, May 19, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.

PHOTO OP

Contact: Francis X. Gribbon and David Billig (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny