Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, September 27, 1999

Release #373-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Matthew Higgins 212-788-2958
Michael Regan/Frank McCarton (OEM) 212-442-2031


MAYOR GIULIANI AND FIRE COMMISSIONER THOMAS VON ESSEN HONOR HERO PARAMEDICS AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AT AWARDS CEREMONY

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today honored 47 Fire Department Emergency Medical Technicians and paramedics for their outstanding dedication and heroism. Among those honored was EMT-D Tracy Allen Lee, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Supreme Sacrifice. The 34-year-old EMT had contracted the HIV virus in 1989 after coming in contact with the infected blood of a patient she was treating. On September 24th, 1997, Tracy succumbed to complications from the AIDS virus after a long and courageous battle with the disease. The medal was presented to her husband, Victor Lee, along with the original cast of a new medal designed in Tracy's memory to be issued in 2000.

"EMTs and paramedics serve a vital role in New York City's emergency care network, since they are often the first to arrive on the scene in those precious few minutes after tragedy strikes," the Mayor said. "It is within those few minutes, under enormous pressure and with little margin for error, that they make the difference in thousands of lives each year. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank all EMTs and paramedics for their heroic service to our City." Fire Commissioner Von Essen said, "There is no other city in the world that demands of its emergency care providers the level of professionalism and dedication that is commonplace among New York's EMTs and paramedics. Over one million times a year, whenever and wherever lives are at stake, paramedics and EMTs provide urgently needed medical care. The superior training of these professionals routinely makes the difference between life and death. I am proud to honor the members of the EMS Bureau for their commitment and tireless dedication."

The ceremony also commemorated the 25th anniversary of paramedics in New York City by paying tribute to the 19 members of New York City's first paramedic class, "Jacobi One," which graduated in July 1974. The innovative program that these pioneers of pre-hospital medicine participated in has evolved into a curriculum that is recognized by the NYS Department of Health and is emulated throughout the pre-hospital medical community nationwide.

The awards ceremony, the first for New York City's EMTs and paramedics since 1997, recognized actions that occurred during calendar years 1997 and 1998. The following are some highlights from today's ceremony:

In addition to the Christopher J. Prescott Medal, which is endowed by the EMTs and Paramedics union Local 250, the other medals presented were The Chief James Scullion Medal, which is endowed by the EMS; The Lieutenant Kirby McElhern Medal, which has been endowed by the Lieutenants and Captains union Local 3621; and The Jack Pintchik Medal, which has been endowed and continuously awarded by the Pintchik Paint family for the last 16 years. The Greater New York Hospital Association has also generously endowed a medal to be presented to a member of the Voluntary Hospital sector.

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