77 New EMTs Join the FDNY’s Emergency Medical Service

Seventy-seven new EMTs celebrate their graduation.

It was standing room only at the FDNY Academy on Jan. 27, as 77 new EMTs joined the FDNY’s Emergency Medical Service.

“Today you are transforming from bystanders into life savers,” said Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano. “You have chosen a rewarding job, one that lets you make a difference every day.”

The Department’s newest members were part of the Trainee Program, which provides entry-level career positions leading to full-time employment in the EMS Command. The class was partially funded with federal stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services.

Through the Trainee Program, participants become provisional Fire Department employees and participate in a 14-week, two-part training program. The first component of the program earns the participants New York State EMT Certification. Then participants move into the FDNY EMS Academy at Fort Totten, Queens, to learn FDNY policies and procedures.

Upon graduation, they are promoted to FDNY Emergency Medical Technician.

“Welcome to the premiere emergency medical service in the country,” said Chief of Department Edward Kilduff. “Be ready, be prepared, be on your toes, be proud.”

Chief of EMS John Peruggia added, “I’m proud to be a paramedic. Where else can you go to work and know that you are making a difference in someone’s life?”

The new EMTs will be assigned to units throughout the city.

Four members of the class - EMTs Nicholas Waldrop, Darryl Goodridge, Alaisha Francois and Tristen Echols - are the first graduates of the FDNY High School for Fire and Life Safety in Brooklyn to join the ranks of the FDNY.

EMTs Antonio Lucero and Angie Alburquerque also are graduates of an FDNY Emergency Medical Technician program at Grace Dodge Career and Technical Educational High School in the Bronx.

As they begin their careers, EMT Alburquerque said, “I think it’s going to be hectic, but I’m excited. Not many people have this opportunity.”

EMT Francois, whose grandmother, Linore Simmond, was one of the first female firefighters in the FDNY, said she is nervous, but, “I’m just going to do what my training taught me to do.”

Among this diverse new EMT class, 10 different languages are spoken, including French, Creole, Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Yoruba, Gaelic, Cantonese and Portuguese. Thirteen graduating EMTs have family members in the Department and two are veterans of the U.S. Military.

The class valedictorians were EMTs Melissa Jackson and Kevin Sharkey.