Lieutenant Kirby McElhearn Medal

Keneth Newman was appointed to EMS on May 22, 1989. Assigned o EMS Battalion 45. He is a recipient of five pre-hospital saves and an Excellent Duty Medal. He attended New York Institute of Technology. He resides in Patchogue, Long Island, with his wife, Kelly, and their son, Daniel.

Nancy Whitfield was appointed to EMS on August 31, 1987. Assigned to EMS Battalion 45. She is the recipient of numerous pre hospital saves and a Medical Director's Award. She resided in Lindenhurst, Long Island, with her five daughters.

It was 0444 hours on Wednesday, October 21, 1998, and Paramedics Kenneth Newman and Nancy Whitfield were bringing their ambulance back to the station for change of tour. As they turned the corner of Maurice and 54th Avenues, they spotted a burning car at the intersection. They immediately called the EMS Queens dispatch to request fire apparatus. They learned that ambulance 45B1, carrying EMT-Ds Sandra Franklin and Keith Schroeder, was assigned and en route. Paramedics Newman and Whitfield further sized up the situation. They observed an unconscious man trapped inside the vehicle. It appeared that his head had hit the windshield. Observers told them that the car had been traveling at a high rate of speed before going out of control, hitting a tree and a cement wall. There was fire coming from the engine compartment. Paramedic Newman immediately reached for his portable dry chemical fire extinguisher in order to contain the flames and keep them away from the victim. Simultaneously, Paramedic Whitfield attempted to enter the vehicle to reach the man. Finding the vehicle doors locked, Paramedic Whitfield quickly obtained a tire iron from a civilian on the scene. She proceeded to break a window, allowing her access to the victim. As Paramedic Whitfield entered the vehicle, EMT-Ds Franklin and Schroeder arrived on the scene and assisted her in pulling the unconscious man to safety. cont’d on page 23