Part of National Week
EMS Struts Stuff, Honors Its Staff

By ARI PAUL

This is one week Emergency Medical Service Chief-in-Charge John Peruggia waits for all year.

JOHN PERUGGIA: Recognition welcome.

The 34th annual EMS Week started nationwide on Sunday and events scheduled throughout the week in the city highlight the service that Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics provide to citizens.

Biking to Virginia

It kicked off here on May 20 with a ceremony at Station 20 in the Bronx when bike riders took off for Roanoke, Va., where there will be a memorial service on May 26 for EMS workers killed on the job. Deborah Reeves, a New York paramedic who died in 2006 from lung disease related to her 9/11 rescue work, was to be honored at both ceremonies.

On May 22, teams of EMTs and paramedics will compete in simulated scenarios at Metro Tech Commons in Brooklyn. The two winning teams will represent New York at a national competition in Florida in July. Past scenarios have judged how well the teams communicate with the victim and with each other, as well as the quality of the care teams give.

On May 23, the 13th annual Second Chance Ceremony will take place at the Fire Academy on Randall's Island. EMTs and Paramedics will be reunited with heart attack victims they successfully resuscitated. This event is by invitation only.

"It is extremely emotional," Chief Peruggia said. "That's a real touching event."

EMS Week will conclude nationwide at the service in Roanoke. Here, Saturday will feature barbecue lunches at EMS divisions.

EMS promoted the events with posters featuring employees that appeared on 100 bus shelters and 350 telephone booths. The employees spotlighted are EMS Lieutenant Kim Weaver, Paramedic Willie Acosta and EMT Valerie Vera-Tudela.

For Chief Peruggia, who started as an EMT in 1983, working for EMS has been rewarding. He has delivered babies and resuscitated heart attack victims. These are moments, he said, he will never forget.

EMS became a part of the Fire Department in 1996. There are currently more than 3,000 members of the city's EMS Command.

"EMTs and Paramedics, one thing they don't get enough of is recognition," Chief Peruggia said. "It's a very exciting week. It's good for morale. It's good for camaraderie."