Fire and EMTs Save 1-Month-Old Baby in Brooklyn

EMTs Frank Li (left) and Todd Bilgore describe how they saved the life of
a 1-month-old baby boy.

Fire and EMS units worked together to save the life of a 1-month-old baby boy in Brooklyn on Oct. 8.

“It was very emotional,” said EMT Todd Bilgore. “I’m just glad the baby is doing well.”

At 9:08 a.m. a call was received for an unresponsive infant at 2240 Burnett St.

Members of Engine 321, whose firehouse is just around the corner, were the first to arrive on the scene.

Lt. George Polito said they immediately saw a frantic mother who directed them to an unresponsive infant on the hood of a car, bleeding from the nose.

“Anytime you see a lifeless baby, it’s scary,” said Lt. Polito. “It hits home and you start to think about your own kids.”

He said the firefighters found the boy had no pulse and was not breathing, so they began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

When EMTs Bilgore and Frank Li of Station 58 arrived on the scene they continued CPR as they transported him, with a police escort, to Coney Island Hospital.

The baby remained lifeless until they began moving him from the ambulance to the hospital.

“He started to cry and then I started to cry,” said EMT Bilgore. “It was so nice to see the baby come back.”

Later that day the infant was transported to NYU Langone Medical Center in stable condition.

Outside NYU Langone, the baby’s aunt, Maryse Hyppolite, tightly hugged the EMTs and told them: “You saved the baby’s life, thank you so much.”

And as both the fire and EMS units recalled their actions that morning, they were quick to share the praise.

“The engine company did a great job with the CPR, they definitely helped save this baby’s life,” said EMT Li.

Lt. Bilgore noted that he was pleased the joyous outcome occurred on FDNY Memorial Day.

“It’s always nice to have something happy occur on such a sad day. The EMTs did a great job and I’m just glad we were able to do our little part.”