FDNY Adds 171 EMTs to Its Ranks
Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro presided over the Feb. 8 ceremony. "A sick call, a fire, a patient in cardiac arrest, an injured child or a woman in labor – no matter the situation, FDNY members work together, side by side, to care for their patients," he said.
Last week, the Fire Department of the City of New York, the largest U.S. fire department, welcomed 171 new Emergency Medical Technicians to its ranks at a graduation ceremony held in Brooklyn. Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro presided over the Feb. 8 ceremony. "A sick call, a fire, a patient in cardiac arrest, an injured child or a woman in labor – no matter the situation, FDNY members work together, side by side, to care for their patients," he said, adding that graduating is not easy in FDNY because members must complete rigorous training and studies.
"This is an important day for all of you. It's a time to celebrate your hard-earned achievement and to remember all of the studying, training, and difficult work it took to reach this moment,” said Chief of Department James E. Leonard. "As new EMTs, you are critical to the department's life-saving mission, day in and day out."
FDNY Probationary EMT Jessica Byers is one of the seven military veterans who graduated. "The United States Marine Corps taught me a lot about discipline, responsibility, and accountability, which the FDNY also engrains in us," she said. "There's a lot of emphasis to work as a team, which made the Academy a lot easier because I understand the psychology behind what is taught here. For me, there is no better department to be a part of. I enlisted and proudly served my country to make a difference, and now I'm here hoping to keeps that trend going."
FDNY reported that Probationary EMT Aric Tegtmeier's father, Firefighter Paul Tegtmeier, was one of the 343 FDNY members who died on Sept. 11, 2001. "It has always been my childhood dream to be here today and to have the chance to follow in the footsteps of my father," he said. "I am carrying on the legacy he set, and he left big shoes to fill. I look forward to providing the best care I can to the people of this great city and advancing my training and skill set with all that the FDNY has to offer."