78 Paras, EMTs Graduate
Thankful, Even In A Thankless Job

By ARI PAUL

Robert Persaud, who recently served as a field medic in the U.S. Navy in Iraq, will work in the Emergency Medical Service for only a few months before he is redeployed once again. While the Paramedic stood proudly with his certificate from the Fire Department Bureau of Training last week, he said that serving in the armed forces overseas was an invaluable life experience.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James SERVING THE CITY AND NATION: Paramedic Robert Persaud, who recently served as a U.S. Navy field medic in Iraq, was one of 78 to graduate last week from the Emergency Medical Service training program. While proud to work in New York, he will be redeployed in a few months. 'I did a lot of good things over there,' he said.

"It gives me a greater appreciation for all the luxuries we have here," said Paramedic Persaud. "I did a lot of good things over there."

Seven Vets Among Grads

Mr. Persaud was one of 78 new Paramedics and EMTs honored March 13 during an FDNY graduation ceremony at the Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in the Long Island City section of Queens. He was also one of seven graduates who had served in the armed forces and one of three who had served in the U.S.-led occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq.

While the event's speakers praised the graduates' achievements and their willingness to enter a career devoted to helping others, they also acknowledged one of the gloomier realities of being an EMT or a Paramedic: It is hard work with long hours but not a lot of pay or public recognition.

"You will work in more austere environments than any other health-care provider," said EMS Attending Physician David Schoenwetter before he had the graduates recite the Oath of Geneva. "You will not get the credit you deserve in success. You will only be criticized more when you fail. And you will earn less than everyone, except maybe social workers."

District Council 37 Local 2507 President Patrick J. Bahnken, who represents EMTs and Paramedics, said that while he was happy to see the new graduates, the main unresolved problem was that EMS salaries were not sufficient, causing high attrition rates.

"We certainly need more people," he said after the event. "I think the department is well aware that we have a problem with staffing."

Mr. Bahnken and Local 3621 of DC 37 President Tom Eppinger, who represents EMS officers, have said that contract negotiations with the city have stalled due to their demands for raises exceeding those negotiated by other unions.

"Our calls are up, we're extremely busy and response times are going down," FDNY Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano said during the ceremony. "Do your best. Maintain your sense of duty. And keep your sense of humor. You'll certainly need that."

Calls Up 4 Percent

Call volume for EMS is up 4.2 percent this year from a year earlier, said EMS Chief-in-Charge John Peruggia, and it is expected to rise next year.

In his speech to the new EMTs and Paramedics, Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta recognized that there was a wide range of languages spoken among the graduates.

"It's a huge asset to the department," he said, adding that it showed that EMS reflected the diversity of the city.

The new Paramedics besides Mr. Persaud are: Jagmeet Bedi, Felix Granovskiy, Jennifer Hunt, Willie Jones, James McGree, Marco Rivera, Jonathan Romano, Nura Samara, Joshua Scharback, Allen Schildgen and Skerdi Ymerag.

New EMTs

The new EMTs are Francesco Adamo, Devon Adams, Farouk Ally, Michele Anderson, Rowland Aquino, Sharon Assis, Victor Berrios, Etan Blatt, Eva Bus-Farkas, Alexander Bustamante, Victor Cadicamo, Robert Carroll, Loui Cavallini, Daniel Carter, Chanel Cudjoe, Anthony DeMaio, Margaret Devlin, Duronel Dorcemus, Diane Dos Santos, Monique Follins, Louis Font, Elvira Francis, Ian Franklin, Kenshin Furuta, Linette Gipson, Jose Gomex, Jimmy Guailacela, Karel Guibert-Delgado, Matthew Hoffman, Samuel Jimenez, Yuriy Khurin, Rostantin W. Kruczowy, Frank Laurino;

La Reina D. Lawrence, Krystle Liz, Kenneth Martinez, Michelle Mendez, Christopher Mifsud, Lisa M. Nesbitt, Odelmo Paltooram, Nestor Paredes, Harmony Peralta, John Pike, David Ramos, Sanjay Richards, Jonathan Rivera, Allen Rizzo, Carlos Rodriguez, Christopher Romani, Nicketo Russell, Tenille Saunders, Kevin Schaaf, Francesco Sciortino, Rodolfo Seddio Jr., Elizabeth Sosa, Eon Springer, Jason Sutherland, Mourad Touati, Tristan Tricarico, Linda A. Ubiles, Cole Uhrig, Maria Valenzuela, Christopher Vargas, Joseph Vasquez Aldana, Lizbeth Vera and Brian Wilson.